Campaign againgst Obstetric Fistula Care starts

Eldoret, Wednesday, May 24,

KNA by Judy Too

The Ministry of Health is working on modalities to sensitize communities about safe motherhood to reduce the cases of obstetric fistula which remains one of the most devastating complications women experience in the course of delivery.

Project coordinator, Gyno Care Women’s and Fistula hospital Irene Ototo said that the prevention efforts are focused on improving maternal healthcare, promoting education, and empowering women to access safe and timely obstetric fistula care.

Ototo explained that obstetric fistula frequently leaves women and girls leaking urine, faeces or both, leading to chronic medical problems, depression, social isolation and deepening poverty to families.

“We want to raise awareness on obstetric fistula and encourage women suffering from fistula to come forward for surgery to rectify the condition,” she said.

She noted that the common causes of fistula are obstructed labour, early marriages and childbirth, cultural practices like Female Genital Mutilation and lack of access to skilled maternity care.

"Obstetric fistula can be repaired through surgery, but the high cost prevents many women from receiving treatment," said Ototo.

“We want to advocate for increased resources, training of skilled doctors, and improved maternal healthcare to prevent and treat this overwhelming condition for every woman suffering from it,” she noted.

Sabencia Nawera, a recovering patient had suffered from obstetric fistula through an event where she endured a prolonged and unbearable labour and lost her baby.

“I had a tough delivery. I was in labour for five days at home under the care of a midwife. I was eventually taken to a local hospital near home where I delivered but my baby did not survive,” she said.

“The childbirth injury left me leaking urine and stool which led my mother to isolate me where I had to stay with my grandmother and it took me many years to understand what was happening until I got help from a well-wisher who brought me to the specialist at Gyno Care Women’s and Fistula hospital for surgery,” she painfully recalled.

Benjamin Chemwala, an obstetric gynaecologist noted that fistula could be treated through surgery after which women and girls could go back to their normal lives.

“The majority of women avoid or delay seeking treatment because they are unaware of the condition or they are concerned about being treated differently in society due to stigma and discrimination," Chemwala noted.

He advised women to give birth in hospitals as it is safe and in case of any complication, it can be dealt with immediately with skilled professionals.

Courtesy ; K. N. A