The success stories after fistula surgery
Amref's programme to support fistula sufferers and survivors in Tanzania and Uganda is celebrating five years of implementation, and 244 women receiving successful reconstruction surgeries.
In 2023,
What is obstetric fistula?
Obstetric fistula is a pregnancy-related condition caused by prolonged or obstructed labor. It leads to a continuous leakage through an abnormal opening between a woman's urinary tract and/or rectum and her vagina (WHO, 2018). This condition affects approximately two million women.
The condition is most commonly found in lower income countries where there’s a lack of access to quality emergency medical, with 50,000 to 100,000 new cases emerging each year (WHO, 2018). Without urgent medical intervention, women suffer severe and life-threatening consequences, including incontinence, infections, depression, and social exclusion, exacerbating their poverty.
Mpejiwa's story
Mpejiwa Lunyilija, an 80-year-old resident of Mahaha Village in the Magu District of Mwanza Region, is a testament to the challenges and eventual triumph over this condition.
During her eighth childbirth, she encountered complications and an extended labor that her local health facility could not address. Despite her efforts to seek medical help, she was sent home without adequate treatment and endured this debilitating condition for 32 years.
Her situation changed when Jumanee Charles, an Amref-trained fistula ambassador, visited her and facilitated a referral for successful surgery.
This intervention, coupled with psychosocial support, enabled her to reintegrate into her family and community. Through the Amref programme, she also received entrepreneurship training and now raises sheep, generating a steady income.
The Uganda and Tanzania obstetric fistula programme has completed 244 successful surgeries for women over the past five years.
Like Mpejiwa, these survivors receive support to reintegrate into their communities and are trained in small business skills to achieve economic independence. This holistic approach not only restores their health but also empowers them to rebuild their lives and contribute to their communities.
Read more
Find out more about the obstetric fistula programme, and other programme impact, in our 2023 Impact Report.
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