75,000 Ugandan women suffer from obstetric fistula

Oct 01, 2018

Although, 2,000 repairs are carried out every year, a good proportion of women affected by fistula are not receiving the required treatment.

PIC: State minister for health in charge of general duties, Sarah Opendi says that there are an estimated 1,000 news cases of fistula annually. (File photo)

HEALTH

KAMPALA - Despite recent strides that have seen the percentage of Ugandan women afflicted with obstetric fistula drop from 2% in 2016 to 1% today of all Ugandan women in reproductive age, government has revealed that an estimated 75,000 women are suffering from the medical condition associated with complicated birthing.

According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, 2% of Ugandan women in reproductive age bracket range between 140,000 and 200,000.

Of these, state minister for health in charge of general duties, Sarah Opendi told Parliament last week that an estimated 75,000 suffer from obstetric fistula.

"There has been a marked improvement in the reduction of fistula cases among women in reproductive age from 2% to 1% but we still get an estimated 1,000 new cases annually," Opendi said in response to a question by MP Wamai Wamanga (Mbale Municipality) over what Government is doing to reduce fistula cases in the country.

Although, 2,000 repairs are carried out every year, a good proportion of women affected by fistula are not receiving the required treatment hence, leaving a massive backlog in the communities.

When put on spot by MP Atim Joy Ongom (Lira district) over the sh2.5m needed to treat fistula in the new Mulago health facility, Opendi made it explicit that the fee, despite being way out of reach for many ordinary Ugandans, would not be reduced.

The new Mulago, Opendi said, is a specialized facility and any Ugandan in need of fistula repair should seek free treatment in a number of referral and mission hospitals in different parts of the country.

Hospitals carrying out free fistula repair include Lacor, Kagando, Kitovu, Kamuli, Kisiizi, Kumi and Virika Mission Hospital. The services are undertaken by the 23 fistula surgeons, with capacity to carry out simple and complex repairs.

Opendi told the House that every case of obstetric fistula costs $1000 (about sh3.8m), which is paid by the American government.

Virtually unheard of in wealthier nations, according to the World Health Organization, obstetric fistula (Latin for hole) is an affliction of the very poor, and is predominantly caused by neglected, obstructed labor.

If the obstruction is unrelieved, the baby usually dies.

Obstetric fistula is as an abnormal opening between the birth canal and the bladder/ureter or rectum of a woman that results in constant leakage of urine and/or faeces through the birth canal.

Most fistulas are as a result of difficult childbirth and obstructed labour lasting more than 24 hours.

The pressure of the baby's head or any presenting part of the baby can injure the tissue in the birth canal, creating a hole between the birth canal and bladder or rectum causing continuous and uncontrollable leakage of urine, faeces or both.

The medical complication is common among child mothers.