Hoima. More than 12,000 women living with fistula have received repair surgeries in the last five years, Health state minister Sarah Opendi, has said.
Fistula is a condition that leads to continuous flow of urine or faeces.
Fistula repair per person costs between Shs800,000 and Shs1.2 million.
“Uganda started offering repair surgeries for women suffering from fistula in 2003 and since then, we have been able to work on 12,000 women whose lives have been given back to them through the repairs,” Ms Opendi said during celebrations to mark the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula in Hoima District last weekend.
The numbers
Every year, there is an estimated 2,500 repairs that take place despite recording at least 1,900 new cases every year.
Ms Opendi called for the fight against teenage pregnancies since most fistulas occur as a result of hard labour in young girls below 20 years.
“Let us stop marrying off these young girls or defiling them because when they end up developing complications such as fistula, you abandon them,” she said.
Ms Cecile Compaore, the United Nations Population Fund deputy country representative, added that 80 per cent of the women suffering from the condition are teenage girls who give birth before the age of 18 years.
Dr Simon Wondimagegnehu, the World Health Organisation representative, believes cultural practices help facilitate actions such as marrying off young girls before the age of maturity. – Monitor
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