Zimbabwe Launches Free Treatment for Obstetric Fistula

By Adebowale Bello. Freelance Health Writer.

Wednesday, September 18, 2024. In response to persistent pressure from human rights organizations, the Zimbabwean government has begun offering free treatment for women suffering from obstetric fistula—a debilitating condition that impairs bowel control following difficult childbirth. This initiative aims to relieve many women who have silently endured this affliction due to financial constraints.

At the Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital, young women were among the first to benefit from surgeries performed by government gynaecologists to treat their obstetric fistula. One of the recipients, 23-year-old Chiedza (a pseudonym requested for anonymity), expressed her joy after years of suffering in silence. Since giving birth seven years ago, she had been unable to control her bowel movements.

“When I gave birth, I tore my private parts and couldn’t control my bowels,” Chiedza explained. “It would happen unexpectedly and I had no money to seek medical treatment. But when I learned about this free service from a women’s WhatsApp group, I called the toll-free number and came here. Now, I can finally live comfortably and even do household chores without worry.”

Another beneficiary, Tendai, shared her painful experience after suffering a bladder rupture during prolonged labor at the age of 16. 

“I had to wear nappies, even sharing them with my baby, to mask the smell,” Tendai recounted. “At one point, I considered suicide because people would laugh at me. I thought I was cursed until I came here and realized others shared my condition. I’m grateful for this procedure because it has restored my hope.”

According to the World Health Organization, between 50,000 and 100,000 women globally develop obstetric fistula each year, with approximately 2 million women in sub-Saharan Africa currently living with the condition.

Dr. Stanley Ngwaru, a senior gynecologist with Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health, explained that obstetric fistula is caused by abnormal connections between the genital tract and either the urinary tract or rectum.

“Women with this condition face social stigma and isolation,” Dr. Ngwaru said. “It’s especially common among young women whose genital tracts are not fully developed. When they endure obstructed labor, it increases the risk of these abnormal connections.”

Lucia Masuka, head of Amnesty International Zimbabwe, praised the government’s move to provide free treatment but emphasized the need for a preventive approach.

“While offering treatment is a step forward, prevention is key,” Masuka stated. “Ensuring access to sexual and reproductive health services for young women can reduce early pregnancies, and by extension, reduce cases of obstetric fistula. Treating the condition without addressing the root cause is like mopping up water from an open tap—you’ll never make real progress unless the tap is turned off.”

This comes after Amnesty International Zimbabwe had previously urged the government to prioritize obstetric fistula as a public health issue after its research revealed the widespread nature of the condition among young women in the country, who had largely been left without necessary support.

Source: VOA

Related: Ghana Launches 2024 Obstetric Fistula Programme in Partnership with ECOWAS

Published: September 18, 2024

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