MoHCC partners with UNFPA to provide free Obstetri...

MoHCC partners with UNFPA to provide free Obstetric Fistula repair surgeries

Patricia Mashiri

Zim Now Writer

The Ministry of Health and Child Care in Zimbabwe has partnered with the United Nations Population Fund and Atermedis International to offer free corrective surgeries for women suffering from obstetric fistula, a debilitating childbirth injury.

This condition occurs when a woman experiences prolonged or obstructed labour without adequate medical care, leading to a tear between the birth canal and the bladder or rectum. The result is chronic incontinence, pain, and social isolation.

Dr Chipo Chimamise-Dembedza, National Maternal Health Officer, explained that prior to 2015, Zimbabwe had no dedicated fistula repair program, and the procedures were only available in higher-level hospitals, making them expensive and inaccessible to the average woman.

“To date, we have repaired 1,894 women. This indicates many more women in the community still suffer in silence. We had one case of a 79-year-old woman who had lived with the condition for 47 years before being treated. These women deserve a dignified life, just like you and me," she said.

She emphasised the importance of identifying affected women and linking them to care, as the surgery not only restores their health but also reintegrates them into society. The surgeries are free of charge, with all hospital expenses covered, including health kits and transport.

Dr Collet Mawire, Medical Superintendent of Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital, one of the hospitals offering fistula repair services, noted that the condition is most common among poor women in remote areas.

"These women cannot afford the surgery, which costs around USD $400, leaving them to suffer with this social curse for a lifetime. We are working to restore normalcy to their lives," he explained. Mawire also highlighted that most of the patients treated so far are from Mutare, many belonging to white garment sects, with a success rate of around 90%.

Currently, hospitals including Mashoko Hospital in Masvingo, Mutambara Hospital in Chimanimani, Chidamoyo in Mashonaland West, and Makonde Christian Hospital in Mhangura are offering these corrective surgeries. Globally, obstetric fistula affects between 50,000 and 100,000 women annually, primarily in low- and middle-income countries.