Tag: OBSTETRIC FISTULA

Woman Relives 12 Year Ordeal With Obstetric Fistula

Michael Gwarisa

AS an orphan and at age 14, Tendai Chimana (now 40), got into an early child marriage. This occurred after she had dropped out of school in Grade 7 and started working as a house help in Harare since she had relocated from her rural home in Birchenough Bridge, Manicaland. By Michael Gwarisa Some months into her marriage, she conceived and everything was normal. Trouble only came around the third trimester when her husband suggested that she goes and deliver the child in rural Bocha where her aunt resided. It…

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Over 700 Obstetric Fistula Repairs Conducted In Zimbabwe Since 2015

Michael Gwarisa

THE United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), have since the year 2015 conducted over 700 Obstetric Fistula (OF) repairs in women and girls. By Michael Gwarisa Obstetric fistula is a tear that occurs between the birth canal with the bladder and or rectum that leaves women leaking urine, faeces or both without control. As a result it leads to social rejection, and or subsequent medical complications with infection occurring easily. If not treated in a timely way it also causes…

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Isolated And Frowned Upon: The Plight Of Zim Women With Obstetric Fistula

Michael Gwarisa

 UNFPA Says there is need for post-surgery psycho-social support for survivors MEMORY (50) (real name protected) from Bikita, Masvingo experienced Obstetric Fistula for the first time on October, 27, 1995 when she had her second child. At first, she didn’t even know what was happening to her, she thought it was just a minor tearing which would heal after a few days. Obstetric fistula is described as the “most devastating birth injury” by the World Health Organization (WHO), that results in continuous and uncontrollable leaking of urine or faeces, resulting…

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Obstetric Fistula: New Amnesty International Report Reveals How Barriers To Accessing Public Health Facilities Expose Zim Women And Girls To Life-changing Childbirth Related Injuries

Healthtimes

PREGNANT  women and girls in Zimbabwe are at risk of  life changing childbirth-related injuries, including obstetric fistula, as many shun public healthcare facilities in favour of home-based deliveries due to inadequate health infrastructure, cultural practices  and high hospital costs, Amnesty International said today in a new report. HealthTimes Reporter The report, “I never thought I could get healed from this“, lays bare the physical and psychological trauma that women and girls who experience obstetric fistula in Zimbabwe go through. The condition, described as the “most devastating birth injury” by the…

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