Chronicle Editor
Thandeka Moyo-Ndlovu, Senior Health Reporter
MORE than 700 Zimbabwean women have had surgical treatment for obstetric fistula since inception of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Care in 2015.
The programme is being run from Chinhoyi where women with obstetric fistula are treated for free.
Obstetric fistula is one of the most serious and tragic injuries that occur as a result of poor management of labour and subsequently difficult childbirth.
It is caused by prolonged or obstructed labour in the birth pathway for various reasons due to a pelvis that is not expanding wide enough to allow the baby to come out.
The tear between the birth canal and bladder or rectum leaves women leaking urine, faeces, or both without control.
As a result, it leads to social rejection and subsequent medical complications with infections occurring easily.
If not treated timeously, it can also cause psychological or mental trauma and eventual death.
Without timely access to assisted birth through emergency obstetric care, notably a Caesarian section, fistula occurs.
In a statement, UNFPA country representative Dr Esther Muia called for greater support towards restoring the dignity of women and girls with obstetric fistula.
“Since the programme began in 2015, we have restored dignity to over 700 women, who are now leading normal lives together with the Ministry of Health and Child Care. UNFPA remains committed to continuing support to the Ministry of Health and Child Care to ensure accessibility to fistula repair services for women whose lives have been negatively affected by fistula,” she said.
“Women and girls with fistula are often ostracised in society because of the unaccepted odour and endure depression and poverty because they cannot work in public with the condition. Many are abandoned by their sexual partners, husbands and families, further driving them into poverty.”
Dr Muia said while corrective surgery is important, the key to addressing the problem of obstetric fistula is preventing its occurrence.
“We must ensure that every woman delivers with skilled assistance in a health facility where they can access appropriate basic obstetric care and emergency obstetric care in the event that complications arise during delivery. Additionally, availability and access to voluntary family planning information and services to those who want, would reduce the number of women dying or be injured during childbirth by at least 20 percent,” she said. – @thamamoe
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