Rebuilding Lives

Vesicovaginal Fistula is a childbirth injury where a hole is developed between the birth canal and the bladder. Obstructed labour, without the assistance of a skilled attendant is the main cause for the condition. This leads to chronic incontinence for the women concerned.

In many parts of Africa, the doctors say that there is no cure for the condition. Some women will spend over ten years without any knowledge of the easy treatment available for fistula sufferers. Yet it can be completely cured, usually with just one simple operation and proper post-operation care for a few weeks.

Fistula is closely linked to poverty in developing countries. A young mother is more likely to develop fistula as her pelvis is not developed. However, a poor girl in the developing world does not have a say in the matter of at what age she will marry. Unmarried girls are a financial burden to their families. Family planning is also limited in most poor societies. A woman does not have the choice of when or how many children to have.

Poor maternal healthcare in Africa is inflicting a life of isolation and shame upon millions of women. Because of the smell that is constantly surrounding these women they become outcasts in their society. They are usually abandoned by their husbands and the village. Without anyone to support them they are left to beg and live off handouts.

Fistula used to be common in the UK and the Western world as well, before maternal healthcare became commonplace. However, this condition has not been seen in the UK for nearly 100 years, since maternal healthcare developments made prolonged labour a distant memory.

• At least 2 million women in Africa, Asia and the Middle East are living with the condition (W.H.O), and
• 50,000 to 100,000 new cases develop each year (W.H.O)
• Two to three women per 1,000 pregnancies develop fistula where no maternal healthcare is available (UNFPA)
• About 15 per cent of all pregnancies around the world will result in complications that require emergency medical intervention.(Campaign to end Fistula)
• The success rate of fistula repair for experienced surgeons can be as high as 90 per cent. (Campaign to End Fistula)

At the beginning of 2005 our partner opened a new fistula clinic in Sierra Leone. The Fistula Centre is now able to offer women the chance to rebuild their lives, to be free to be a part of their communities once more. The newly built facility has a 44-bed ward, a 25-bed recovery hostel next door and can carry out two simultaneous operations.

Once treated, a woman is offered basic skills training including basic literacy whilst she recovers from the operation. Many leave not only clean and dry but also able to at least write their own names for the first time. Each woman is also given a new dress in a celebratory ceremony when she is about to leave the centre.

The new centre has an outreach facility which allow girls in remote villages to be screened for the suitability of having the operation. They also offer the young girls and women the transport to get into Freetown. This transport is essential for the girls who would not be able to afford the trip into the capital or could be thrown off public transport as their stench is atrocious.

If you could see the joy on the faces of those women returning home, dry for the first time in what could be 25 years, you would be able to see how much this life-changing procedure means.