Source: East African Business Week
Last week, Uganda held the 5th International Conference of Obstetric Fistula Surgeons.
The conference which is organized by fistula care stakeholders in Uganda led by Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the International Society of Obstetric Fistula Surgeons (ISOFS) in Uganda and other global partners was intended to assess the effects of fistula on women in Uganda and around the world but also find a solution to the dehumanizing disease.
The high numbers of fistula in Uganda are blamed on failure by government to put up accessible and up to standard maternal health facilities in all parts of the country.
Jolly Begezaki, a gynecologist at Mulago hospital said cases of fistula development can be avoided if women can easily access hospitals instead of using traditional birth methods where untrained traditional birth attendants use crude methods that destroy women's bodies or even lead to their death.
"Obstetric fistula is mainly as a result of a difficult labor. Women especially those in villages spend three days trying to give birth. If they luckily don't die, their body is torn apart and in a few weeks they discover that they have fistula. Such circumstances can be avoided if all women are able to access free antenatal care," Bagezaki said
CHECK UP: A Pregnant woman undergoing a medical checkup
An obstetric fistula is a hole between the vagina and rectum or bladder that is caused by prolonged obstructed labor, leaving a woman incontinent of urine or faeces or both.
Fistula remains a serious health problem to Ugandan women especially those from rural areas who use traditional methods to give birth. Records from ministry of health show that 140000 -200000 women in Uganda are currently suffering from fistula with 1900 cases recorded every year. This puts Uganda among the highest country with fistula patients.
Women who suffer from fistula Women who experience obstetric fistula suffer constant incontinence, shame, and social segregation and health problems like skin infections, kidney disorders and even death if left untreated.
In most cases, carriers of this disease are abandoned by families to rot a way and die sometimes. They endure Uncontrollable leaking bodily wastes, and are often shunned by their families and communities. Kobusigye Jane, a social worker who has been taking care of her fistula patient mother says the conditions of fistula patients is the main reason where family abandon them and ignore them to rot a way.
"She is my mother but at times, I wish it was someone else's mother and I did not have to go through all that I am going through. I find it hard to eat food sometimes just thinking about the dirty clothes I have to wash every day. But I try to be patient with her. She got the problem while giving birth to our last born whom I adore. That makes her special." Kobusigye said sadly.
She wants government and other human rights bodies to come up with immediate solution so as to save our mothers from this demeaning shameful disease and give them the respect that they deserve.
Joseph Matove, a public health expert said Obstetric fistulae can largely be avoided by delaying the age of first pregnancy, by the cessation of harmful traditional practices and by timely access to quality obstetric care.
He added that Obstetric fistula still exists because health care systems fail to provide accessible, quality maternal health care, including family planning, skilled care at birth, basic and comprehensive emergency obstetric care, and affordable treatment of fistula Patients with uncomplicated fistulae can undergo a simple surgery to repair the hole in their bladder or rectum. Approximately 80-95% of vaginal fistula can be closed surgically.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) report, each year between 50 000 to 100 000 women worldwide are affected by obstetric fistula, a hole in the birth canal. The development of obstetric fistula is directly linked to one of the major causes of maternal mortality that is obstructed labour. It is estimated that more than 2 million young women live with untreated obstetric fistula in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Preventing and managing obstetric fistula contribute to the Millennium Development Goal 5 of improving maternal health.