25 to undergo fistula repair in Mulanje

Mulanje District Hospital will repair 25 women from its catchment area with obstetric fistula.

Speaking in an interview on Wednesday at the hospital after a media visit, Mulanje district health officer (DHO) Khuliena Kabwere said the problem of obstetric fistula is common in the district.

He said in most cases, women are reluctant to seek treatment from the hospital due to the nature of the disease.

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) country representative Violet Kakyomya said her organisation is planning to set-up an obstetric fistula centre to treat affected women on time.

“Currently, we are looking at a number of things such as government facilities, service providers, health centres, and statistics among others which are ideal for the establishment of the centre,” she said.

Hope Mikayele, 21, from Mulanje, who was cured of the disease, expressed happiness that that problem that has been troubling her since April is now history.

UNFPA, in partnership with Operation Fistula and Fistula Foundation, is supporting the exercise.n