By Courage Dutiro
In honor of Women’s History Month, the Ministry of Health and Child Care, along with its partners, is offering free obstetric fistula repair surgery at Mashoko Christian Mission Hospital in Masvingo province.
The free treatment camping program started on March 11 and is ending on March 28, 2024.
Obstetric fistula, as described by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), is a birth injury caused by typically prolonged or obstructed labor. This condition results in a woman’s inability to control her urine or stool.
Reproductive health officer in the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) Dr Chipo Dembedza said the Government of Zimbabwe and its partners were holding a free treatment for women with obstetric fistula at Mashoko Christian Mission Hospital and are expecting to assist forty-five women during the camping.
“This program is held quarterly. Currently, we have an ongoing camp at Mashoko Mission Hospital in Masvingo province, ending on March 28, 2024.
“We are expecting that by the end of the camp, forty-five (45) women will be treated free of charge. In our last camp held last December at Mashoko Hospital, thirty-six women were assisted,” said Dr Dembedza.
She also said over a thousand women have benefited from the programme since its launch in August 2015 at Chinhoyi Hospital as a public health programme.
“This programme started at a public health level in 2015 August at Chinhoyi Hospital and then later decentralized to four other hospitals across the country. These hospitals include Mashoko Mission Hospital, Morgenster Mission Hospital, Mutambara Mission Hospital, and Chidamoyo Hospital.
“Since the programme started more than one thousand (1000) women were assisted. Those who are suffering from the problem or those who know someone with the problem can call the toll-free number 080802341 for further information,” she said.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), obstetric fistula can be prevented by reducing the number of early, unplanned pregnancies, ending harmful practices such as child marriage, and ensuring access to quality emergency obstetric care, especially cesarean section.
A report by Amnesty International Zimbabwe indicates that most women had lived for years with obstetric fistula, or undiagnosed conditions of incontinence related to childbirth, with many thinking they were the only person with the condition.
The report further indicates that lack of information about the causes and treatment of obstetric fistula increased women’s risk of discrimination and abuse within their families and communities.
