Over 2m women still live with fistula, says UNFPA [Do You Even Know What Fistula is? MUST READ For All Ladies]

What is fistula?

A fistula is an abnormal connection between two hollow spaces (technically, two epithelialized surfaces), such as blood vessels, intestines , or other hollow organs . Fistulas are usually caused by injury or surgery, but they can also result from an infection or inflammation.

Fistulas are generally a disease condition, but they may be surgically created for therapeutic reasons.

Fistula may affect different parts of the body systems but this context focuses on the Urogenital Fistula which affects the Urogenital system in females.

Causes

Obstructed labor can lead to vesicovaginal and rectovaginal fistulas. An obstetric fistula develops when blood supply to the tissues of the vagina and the bladder (and/or rectum) is cut off during prolonged obstructed labor. The tissues die and a hole forms through which urine and/or feces pass uncontrollably.

Vesicovaginal and rectovaginal fistulas may also be caused by rape, in particular gang rape, and rape with foreign objects, as evidenced by the abnormally high number of women in conflict areas who have suffered fistulae.

Do you remember the movie "Dry"?

Social, political, and economic causes that indirectly lead to the development of obstetric fistulae concern issues of poverty , malnutrition, lack of education, early marriage and childbirth, the role and status of women in developing countries, harmful traditional practices, sexual violence , and lack of good quality or accessible maternal and health care.

Points where fistula can occur

"Fistula, a preventable birth injury is estimated to still debilitate over 2 million women, with up to 100,000 new cases of fistula added every year."

This was revealed in a statement by the Executive Director of by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin to mark this year’s International Fistula Day.

With this year’s theme, ‘Hope, healing and dignity for all’, wife of Ebonyi state Governor, Rachel Umahi, emphasized on need for every woman to take up the challenge of disseminating information on fistula.

"We must take up the job of spreading the word on fistula prevention and treatment because this ailment tampers one’s confidence which in turn leads to depression.”

Earlier on, the country program manager for the US-funded project Fistula Care Plus, Iyeme Efem, noted that fistula should not be associated with backward cultural beliefs which encourage the increase of fistula cases in Nigeria.

“Fistula has nothing to do with witch craft, it is entirely a result of complications in childbirth," Efem said.

According to him, the 12,000 cases which occurred in 2012 increased to more than 400,000 in 2016, adding to a backlog of existing cases waiting for repair.

Women or girls with fistula are psychologically imbalanced and ostracized in society, making it difficult for the patient to cope with their environment as they are very often isolated from the community, shunned by their family, and mostly divorced by their spouses except if treated.

Let's keep spreading the word to the people around us.

Tell the people around you!

Let them know!

Let's say NO to Obstetric fistula!!!

#WarAgainstFistulaCampaign