admin
Loveness Mpofu, Sunday News Reporter
THE United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) is in the process of building the first ever obstetric fistula centre in the southern part of the country at a cost of more than $170 000 amid revelations that there are more than 1 000 women in the region who need assistance from the condition.
Obstetric fistula is a condition in women where in most cases there is prolonged labour which creates a hole between the private part and rectum resulting in women involuntarily passing urine and or faeces.
Other trauma to the bladder caused by such things as rape or an operation can also damage the women and make them susceptible to the condition.
The condition can also affect women who fall pregnant when they are very young and the body cannot contain the changes.
The centre at UBH is being built at an estimated cost of $176 000 and is set to have two theatres. The centre will help ease pressure on the only operational centre in the country that is in Chinhoyi.
In an interview on Friday, UBH chief executive officer Mrs Nonhlanhla Ndlovu said construction started in June last year and was now at an advanced stage.
The hospital is getting financial assistance for the construction work from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
“We are in the process of constructing the first ever centre in the southern part of the country. It’s a new self contained building located in one of our reproductive areas which will allow us to provide holistic services for reproductive health. Already we have a backlog of more than 1 000 women who need repair, so this centre will be of great benefit,” she said.
Zimbabwe has been facing an obstetric fistula crisis due to lack of equipment and personnel at a time when there is only one centre in the country to address the maternal health related disorder.
The only centre which is operational in the country is run by the (UNFPA) in Chinhoyi and people are attended to there once quarterly.
Mrs Ndlovu said: “The reason for embarking on the project is because UBH is a centre of excellence for reproductive health. Women from this side of the country have been failing to get medical attention and they had to travel to Chinhoyi, which is far and costly.
“We are very grateful to UNFPA which is helping us with funding the project. Currently, we have received $85 000 and an additional $90 000 is needed.
“We are seeing great progress as the building is now at roof level. Our doctors have gone on training to be equipped with necessary skills on how to operate the patients. This is because of the delicate nature of the operation which requires trained personnel to avoid further complications.”
Recently, UNFPA reproductive health specialist Dr Edwin Mpeta mentioned child marriages as one of the causes of obstetric fistula. He said this was because if a girl conceives while still immature they would have a difficult prolonged child birth which could result in fistula.-@lvydvy
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu