By Yang Ater Yang
At least 51 women have successfully undergone surgery for obstetric fistula and have been discharged from Kiir Mayardit Women’s Hospital in Rumbek, Lakes State, following treatment and recovery guidance from health workers.
The fistula treatment was conducted by the Lakes State Ministry of Health in partnership with Doctors with Africa CUAMM and other health partners to provide specialised care to women suffering from obstetric fistula.
The initiative is aimed at bringing fistula services closer to women in Lakes State, allowing patients to access specialised treatment within their communities while restoring hope to women facing the physical, emotional, and social challenges associated with the condition.
Gabriel Ngor, the husband of one of the fistula patients admitted to Kiir Mayardit Women’s Hospital, expressed gratitude to the medical team for successfully performing surgery on his wife.
Ngor said his wife developed the condition after giving birth to their first child, forcing the family to adjust to difficult circumstances.
“We were staying together when she got this condition of fistula,” he said. “This support to help poor people in the community with such a condition is one of the greatest things.”
He encouraged other families to seek medical treatment for women suffering from fistula rather than leaving them to cope with the condition at home.
Ngor said he had to take on additional responsibilities while his wife was suffering, including buying items from the market, fetching water, and caring for their child.
“These were the conditions I had before my wife received surgery for fistula. Now, I am very happy for the successful fistula surgery done by the doctors,” he said.
Dr. Hikama Mohamed Abdalla, a member of the surgical team, said the health workers were encouraged by the growing number of women responding to fistula treatment services in Rumbek.
She said the increased attendance demonstrated a growing demand for specialised fistula care and encouraged the medical team to continue providing treatment to women affected by the condition.
“We are very prepared to do any fistula surgery and treatment for women with such a condition in their lives,” Dr. Hikama said.
She said the number of women seeking fistula surgery had increased compared with the first day of the medical intervention.
Dr. Hikama also urged families to support women suffering from fistula and ensure they receive timely medical care.
She identified early marriage as one of the factors associated with obstetric fistula and called on families to protect girls from early and forced marriage.
She urged husbands and families to care for women who develop the condition and support them throughout treatment and recovery.
One of the patients, Deborah Kamis, appealed to community members to spread information about the availability of fistula treatment at Kiir Mayardit Women’s Hospital.
She encouraged women affected by the condition across Lakes State to seek medical attention and take advantage of the specialised services being provided.
Kamis also urged patients to follow medical advice during the recovery period, including avoiding sexual intercourse until they have fully healed.
She warned that resuming sexual activity too soon could interfere with the healing process and potentially worsen the patient’s condition.
“Our husbands struggle to get intimacy with their wives. They don’t care much about the condition, and the same thing happens to us as women,” Kamis said.
She encouraged husbands to understand the health condition of their wives and give them the necessary time and support to recover fully after surgery.
The health partners said the fistula program is part of efforts to improve access to specialised maternal health services in Lakes State and help women affected by obstetric fistula regain their health and dignity.