CBC Health Services initiates Obstetric Fistula Treatment
The CBC Health Services has launched obstetric fistula treatment in three of its hospitals in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon beginning February 2022. This very first initiative by the CBC Health Services has been developed in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Hope and Healing International, (HHI) Canada.
Obstetric Fistula as described by UNFPA is a childbirth injury which occurs when a woman or girl suffers prolonged or obstructed labour or some other trauma without timely medical intervention and which leads to incontinence or constant leaking of urine and/or faeces through the vagina.
In a meeting on February 3, 2022 to plan for the launchig of this initiative, the Project Coordinator, Mr. Njodzeven Divine disclosed that the project will run for 5 months and is targeting 20 women and girls to be treated of obstetric fistula free of charge. Activities to facilitate the treatment of identified cases include; awareness raising, identification, transportation and treatment of patients and provision of livelihood and empowerment opportunities for those treated who are often from very needy backgrounds. Psycho social support will also be provided to beneficiaries.
According to Mr. Awa Jacques Chirac, the Coordinator of Services for Persons with Disabilities, the CBC Health Services decided to focus on the Northwest and Southwest Regions because the CBC Health Services has never led an organized response for the treatment of obstetric fistula treatment in these regions. He also explained that with the ongoing violent humanitarian crisis, there is a likelihood of this fistulae in these regions.
The CBC Health Services Chief of Secretariat, Mrs. Ndi Maria, on behalf of the CBC Health Services Director welcomed participants at the meeting and encouraged intense awareness raising given that there is a lot of ignorance and stigma associated with the condition. She encouraged the staff assigned to work on the initiative to fully apply themselves to achieve the objectives and render their services as unto God.
During the meeting, the participants discussed implementation strategies and set up working groups including a health, economic empowerment and coordination to carry out the tasks involved in the project.
Obstetric fistula causes untold misery and leaves women and girls who suffer from it ashamed and often isolated from their communities. They are often abandoned by their husbands and isolated from the community due to the smell from urine leakage. Treatment is through surgery which will be done in the Mbingo, Nkwen and Mutengene Baptist Hospitals.
This initiative will hopefully alleviate the suffering and plight of women and girls with obstetric fistula who are usually poor, young, illiterate and the most marginalized members of society.