A Life-Changing Surgery that Restores Hope

“I would like to advise mums with fistula not to lose hope even though it is a huge problem. Do not lose hope.” 

Christina

In Mwanza, Tanzania, Christina knows all too well how women can suffer without adequate health care. After prolonged, obstructed labor, Christina gave birth to a stillborn baby and suffered an injury that caused a fistula, an abnormal opening between a woman’s genital tract and her urinary tract or rectum, causing continuous leakage of urine, stool or both. Christina’s fistula caused ongoing health problems, but she had support – from her family and, in partnership with Bugando Medical Center, Americares.

Americares partnership with BMC ensures Christina and other fistula patients receive repair surgery, counseling, and pre- and post-operative care at no cost. Christina is one of more than 160 women each year who receive life-changing surgery from this partnership. The partners are now working to expand mental health and psychosocial support to fistula clients.

May 23 is the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula, and Americares, in collaboration with BMC and other partners, are in rural communities in Tanzania’s Kigoma region, raising awareness of fistula, providing surgical services and referring women for higher services at BMC if needed. “We’re proud to partner with Bugando Medical Center to provide surgeries at no cost to women in need. This is life-changing.” says Dr. Nguke Mwakatundu, Americares country director in Tanzania. “The progress to end obstetric fistula is not enough. We should increase efforts and act now to end obstetric fistula in Tanzania by 2030.”

According to the United Nations, 2 million women in low-resource settings have an obstetric fistula, 100,000 more develop one every year and only 1 in 50 ever receives treatment.  Access to quality reproductive health care and skilled birth attendants can prevent this devastating injury.