High Risk Communities in West Region of Cameroon sensitized on Fistula, its Consequences
These are communities with high volume incidence of early marriages, home deliveries and delay to come to hospital when pregnant. “These factors can result to Fistula, a condition whereby a woman passes out urine and/ or faeces uncontrollably from the vagina after delivery due to prolonged labour,” explains Ayenjika Yasmine, SEEFF Project Officer.
The Socio-Economic Empowerment of Females with Fistula, SEEFF project of the Hope and Healing International portfolio carried out sensitization in two typically Fulani Mbororo communities in the West region on December 13, 2023 where 91 Fulani women and a few natives; 58 in Baham and 33 in Bamendjou actively listened to the presentations from program staff.
While a few of the Fulani Mbororo women held tight to their beliefs that their girl child would become promiscuous if they do not get married before the age of 15, a majority of them felt the weight of the presentations and showed visible signs of regret about their negative traditions and culture.
Boyo Maurine, Child Protection and Safeguarding Officer of the Hope and Healing International portfolio enumerated some of the consequences of Fistula for the woman, the family and society including: isolation, abandonment by the spouse and limitation to freely give to society what you can offer.
Two government officials, the divisional delegate of women empowerment and the family in Hauts-Plateaux division and the regional chief of the protection of the family and rights of the child accompanied the SEEFF project team in the field. They encouraged vulnerable women to take advantage of the opportunity by spreading the good news in their communities so that women with Fistula can benefit from supported treatment.
The same sensitization campaign continued to Noun, Menoua and Mifi Divisions still in the West region in the next three days.