The Women and Health Alliance International (WAHA), the University of Zimbabwe and Parirenyatwa Hospital next Monday will launch their forth fistula operation campaign in Zimbabwe.
Obstetric fistula is a serious internal organ injury that continues to affect many poor women and girls in the developing world.
During their last campaign WAHA, along with Ethiopian-based fistula surgeon Dr. Ambaye Wolde Michael, performed fistula surgeries on nearly 20 women over the week at Parirenyatwa Hospital
National Coordinator for the program outreach with Women and Health Alliance International, Priscilla Mabhende, said the campaign is encouraging everyone who has the condition or knows someone with the condition to contact their hotlines and seek assistance.
“With most of the calls we’ve done we do a screening. We talk to the person who sent us the message, we run them through a series of questions to find out if their condition is what we are dealing with, and if it is we invite them through,” said Mabhende.
The medical condition, characterized by urinary and fecal incontinence, is sustained during child birth and can lead to bladder and skin infections, kidney disorders and at times death, if left untreated.
Through the program, prospective patients are provided with free surgery, transportation, board and lodging. The standard hospital stay is 2-3 weeks to ensure doctors the procedure is properly conducted.
“The condition of obstetric fistula is nothing new to the Africa continent, you realize that as a condition itself obstetric fistula is hard to manage, but the procedure for managing this is actually something any particular expert who has experience in this can manage,” said Mabhende.
She added, besides the women, they are encouraging young girls to come out and seek assistance with the surgery.
The WAHA program will run for one week, those Zimbabweans in need of assistance are encouraged to contact WAHA through their Zimbabwe numbers, Whatsapp on 263-782-640-840. You can also call, beep or request call back, using 263-779-626-506.
