{The Rwanda Association of Midwives has requested women to respect doctors’ medical advice during the antenatal services to avoid a post-birth complication known as Obstetric Fistula. }
The president of the Association, Murekezi Josephine made the call on 10th December 2016 after a walk organized by Kigali Marriot Hotel (Kigali Marriot Charity Walk) aimed at creating awareness on Obstetric Fistula.
“Women suffering from Obstetric Fistula should understand that the complication is curable and shouldn’t be ashamed of seeking medical attention from any hospital in the country and girls should avoid conceiving at a tender age when their sexual reproductive organs are not fully developed,” she advised.
During the event of commending International Organisation for Women and Development (IOWD) held at Kibagabaga Hospital , Dr Patrick Ndimubanzi ,the State Minister in the Ministry of Health in charge of Public Health and Primary Health Care announced that a total of 3000 women have been treated and healed of Obstetric Fistula by a team of doctors from International Organisation for Women and Development (IOWD) since 2008.
The management of Kigali Marriot Hotel said they organized the event to create awareness on the dangers of the complication and create hope as the ailment can be healed.
“ We have preferred creating awareness about this disease because we want to help people with inadequate capacity of treating it and reminding victims it can be healed,” said Peter Mukulu, the director of sales and marketing at Kigali Marriot Hotel.
Obstetric fistula (or vaginal fistula) is a medical condition in which a fistula (hole) develops between either the rectum and vagina or between the bladder and vagina after complicated childbirth, when adequate medical care is not available.
According to UNFPA, “Due to the prolonged obstructed labour, the baby almost inevitably dies, and the woman is left with chronic incontinence. Unable to control the flow of urine or faeces, or both, she may be abandoned by her husband and family and ostracized by her community. Without treatment, her prospects for work and family life are virtually non-existent.”
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