By Ibrahim Sorie Koroma
Senior Health Promotion Officer –HEP/MoH
Betty Samai, a Fistula survivor has urged other women who are suffering from fistula to seek care as early as possible and that the disease is largely preventable, curable and treatable. Betty made the appeal in Freetown on May 23rd while giving testimony of how she battled with obstetric fistula and recovered with the help of healthcare professionals.
While giving her hurdle, Betty explained that she had Fistula in 2005 while she was delivered off her third child at home in her village and she was faced with prolonged and obstructed, adding that she had to struggle in pain until one of her sisters who visited her advised her to go to the nearby health facility to seek further care.
Upon her visit to the Peripheral Health Units (PHU), she explained that she was referred to the Bo Government Regional Hospital where she was told that the baby had gone to the bladder, causing some blockage and that it was fistula. “I had never had of a disease like that before; I had to cry upon hearing this because I knew it was something serious and that I was going to die”. Betty Explained in half crying mood.
She reiterated that at Bo Regional Hospital, she was able to be resuscitated as the surgery was done to get the baby out but was later referred to Freetown where she had to undergone multiple surgeries as she had multiple tear to her bladder which complicated her situation for healthcare professionals. “Finally, all the 3 surgeries were done, canceled, rehabilitated and reintegrated into the community”. Said Bettey.
While explaining the role played by her husband, she subbed for a moment and cried with tears stating that she was abandoned by her husband in all of her struggle with the disease; a condition she did not invited but came as a result of giving birth to their third child. “At a time like this, I needed him most but, he was nowhere to be found”….. She continued…”Worst of it while in the hospital, I heard he had gotten another wife; it was as if my world had crashed – dejected and I had nowhere to return to”. Said Betty. She further said that even her friends and some community members who tend to be interested in her condition, later turned back to muck and laugh at her. “I was stigmatized when I returned home after my first surgery”. She added.
She ended by heaping praises on the healthcare professionals who saw her through from Bo onto Freetown as they dispensed their work professionally and were very supportive. She also thanked God and her family for seeing her through in all her struggle with fistula.
Obstetric fistula which normally occurs during child birth is a serious childbirth injury that occurs with prolonged, obstructed labor which sometimes causes a hole (fistula) to form between the vagina and either the bladder or rectum, or sometimes both. A condition which causes leakage of urine in women after birth but it’s largely preventable, treatable and curable with early detection and healthcare seeking.
