The government has allocated about sh800m in the next financial year to treat fistulas announced Dr Jacinto Amandua, Commissioner of clinical services at the ministry of health.
Dr Jacinto Amandua, Commissioner of clinical services at the ministry of health. PHOTO/Abu Mwesigwa
Speaking at the Media center, he explained that number of partner organizations have contributed good sums of money towards the fistula cause.
According to the 2011 Uganda health demographic survey, 2% of women in their reproductive ages suffer from a fistula. This means that there is an estimated 140,000-200,000 women with the problem.
The large backlog of cases coupled with the increasing ones, which are 1900, per year, has surpassed the existing capacity of our health centers as we were able to repair between 1300 and 1700 cases every year.
In Uganda, it takes an approximated shs 700,000 to treat the condition and therefore a lot of women can’t afford the treatment.
The most commonly affected area is the western region where 4% of the women are affected. Dr Peter Mukasa a fistula expert at UNFPA attributes it to the rugged terrain in the districts of Kibale, Bundibugyo and Kanungu where transport becomes scarce and very expensive causing delays.
Also young, illetrate and rural women are more likely to be victims of obstetric fistulas as compared to the others.
Obstetric fistula is a medical condition in which a hole develops between either the rectum or the vagina or between the bladder and vagina during a prolonged or obstructed labour, when adequate medical care is not available.
This results into constant leakage of urine or faeces against a woman’s will. It is considered a disease of poverty because of its tendency to occur in women in poor countries who do not have health resources comparable to developed nations.
Dr Mukasa reveals that the country had a team of 23 fistula surgeons as well as nurses and anesthetists which make up the repair team. An addition, all the 13 regional referral hospitals including Mulago, Fort Portal, Mbale, Gulu, Arua, Jinja, Lira, Masaka, Mbarara and Kabale offer free repairs.
This partnership also spreads to the mission hospitals of, Kitovu hospital, Gulu’s Lacor hospital, , Kisizi in Rukungiri, Kamuli hospital and Virika in Fort Portal, Kagando in Kasese Additionally, the UN agency had had on going fistula camps spread around the country which carry out free repairs.
Despite the persistent incontinence and odor that result from the fistula, a far more devastating outcome of stigma awaits its victims. There is a widespread misconception about the condition, as; most often link it with a curse. Many are unable to work or earn a living, driving them deeper into poverty.
“We don’t stop at just treatment, we support the women and their husbands through counseling to help them integrate into the community,” says Dr Amandua.
By Joyce Nyakato, The New Vision