Stephanie Linus extended hands foundation secures international partnership

In a transformative collaboration, the George Washington University’s Institute for Corporate Responsibility has partnered with Nigerian actress and humanitarian Stephanie Linus and her Extended Hands Foundation to launch the Maternal Health and Nutrition Initiative Africa (MaHNIA). This initiative is designed to address pressing maternal health and nutrition challenges in marginalized African communities, focusing on empowering women and improving health outcomes. The partnership was officially launched after two screenings of Linus’s award-winning film, Dry, a powerful portrayal of a 13-year-old Nigerian child bride’s struggle with obstetric fistula. The film set the stage for an engaging panel discussion on maternal health, women’s rights, and the critical role of nutrition in enhancing healthcare systems in Africa.

GW’s Global Food Institute and Global Women’s Institute co-hosted the event, which included a powerful panel discussion. Stephanie Linus, founder of the Extended Hands Foundation and advocate for women’s health, emphasised the need for holistic care. “Safe motherhood and proper nutrition are not privileges; they are fundamental rights,” she said. “Through MaHNIA, we aim to ensure that women in underserved communities not only survive childbirth but thrive afterward. This initiative combines healthcare and nutrition to create lasting solutions.”

Tara Scully, Director of Curriculum Development at GW’s Global Food Institute, highlighted the crucial role of nutrition in maternal care, saying, “When we talk about healthcare, we must also talk about nutrition. A mother’s nutritional status affects both her health and that of her child. By integrating nutrition education into healthcare, we can improve outcomes for generations to come.” John J. Forrer, Director of GW’s Institute for Corporate Responsibility, stressed the importance of public-private partnerships in tackling healthcare challenges.

“The private sector, working alongside public health institutions, can play a pivotal role in improving access to healthcare. Through collaboration, we can ensure that maternal health services reach those who need them most.” Erin Mielke, Senior Technical Adviser for Reproductive Health at USAID, spoke about the increasing threat of unsafe medical practices, which are contributing to rising cases of obstetric fistula. “Unsafe cesarean deliveries and hysterectomies are becoming more prevalent, especially in low-resource settings,” she explained. “At USAID, we are addressing these challenges through a holistic approach that includes gender-based violence training, nutrition assessments, and physiotherapy.”

Stephanie Linus closed the discussion by highlighting her passion for using storytelling to drive social change. “My film, Dry, tells the story of just one girl, but her story represents millions of women who suffer in silence. Through this initiative, we are giving a voice to those women and providing real solutions,” she said. The Maternal Health and Nutrition Initiative Africa is a pivotal step toward addressing the maternal health crisis across Africa.