By Chioma Obinna

It was an afternoon of tears and testimonies at the National Centre for Obstetric Fistula, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State when some survivors of the life-threatening disorder, Obstetric Fistula, recounted their  stories of the ailment medical experts say is preventive and treatable.

One after the other, they  narrated their stories. Tears flowed freely as they recollected how they were abandoned by their families, left to roam the streets and waited to die.

The occasion was a visit to the facility by  a group of journalists on a field-trip organised by Engender Health and FistulaCare Plus.

The survivors narrated how they  lost  pride of womanhood.

Ogechukwu

One of the survivors, Mrs. Lucia Ofoegbu, who claimed to have lived with the disorder for 50 years, said life had been hell for her. She told the story of how  she lost her twins and was diagnosed with Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF).  An abnormal fistulous tract extending between the bladder and the vagina, VVF allows the continuous involuntary discharge of urine into the vaginal vault. Apart from the medical complication, VVF has a profound effect on the patient’s emotional well-being.

Married off at the age of 13, she never had inclination of what life held in store for her until that fateful day when she  fell into labour.

Like every other woman, she was happy that the journey of nine months was coming to an end but little did she know that it was the beginning of her  travails.

“I laboured for three days. Getting to hospital, my bladder ruptured. That was the beginning of my problem which I have managed for almost 50 years now”, she stated.

Lucia lost her babies and came down with Obstetric Fistula.  Fistula is the hole between the bladder or rectum and the vagina characterised by continuous and uncontrollable leakage of urine or faeces following childbirth.

Faced with the challenge of uncontrollable urine and faeces, Lucia was thrown out of her matrimonial home by her husband. As if that was not enough, the  husband married another woman few months after.

“It was due to the intervention of my fellow women that I am back in the house but, since then, I do not have a child of my own.   I am fine and no longer leaking. I will  continue life the way God has designed it.”

Nweke Blessing Ogechukwu, 27, is also down with the condition. On the day of the visit, she had not been repaired of her condition. She was however hopeful that she will be fine after  surgery. She started leaking urine after she was delivered of her first baby.

Her words: “I am not finding things easy now but have been hopeful since I came here because they told me that, once I am operated, I will be okay. When I came and saw other women, I believed God will do it,” Nweke said.

On her part, 41-year-old Mrs. Oluwabunmi Igunu, who came all the way from Badagry, Lagos, narrated how she almost lost her baby due to long labour which started early morning till she was finally operated at about 11pm. “Since then, I have been leaking faeces and urine. I have been with this problem for over three years until one doctor, Dr. Akinode, directed us to this place.”

For Ifeoma Peter Nwachukwu, 40, her woes started after a prolongedlabour which led to Caesarean Section, CS, but, unfortunately, she lost the baby. “After the surgery, I noticed there was water all over the place even under the bed. I asked and they told me it was urine. They said  it will stop but it did not.  I have been to many hospitals without solution until I was brought here. Although I have not been repaired, I have been given hope that all will be well at the end of the surgery.

“By the grace of God, my husband and other family members are treating me well.  I have one child.”

Reacting to their tales of woes, the Chairman, Medical Advisory Council of the Medical Facility, Dr. Kenneth Ewedike, represented by a consultant gynaecologist and fistula surgeon, Dr. Yakubu Emmanuel, said the number of fistula cases treated at the hospital this year shows a decline when compared to the number treated last year at the same time. He said the centre will ramp its awareness  activities in the neighbouring states of Enugu, Benue and Anambra.

He blamed most of the cases of fistula  treated at the centre on  unplanned pregnancies. “What we do is to allow couples to have planned and desired pregnancies. We counsel them to ensure that they make informed decision”. Ewedike said.

Igunu

“This year, we have done over 40 surgeries. The number is actually dropping. In 2008, we had about 81; in 2009, we had 214, 2010, 319; 2011, 269; 2012 324; 2015,  246. This year, the number seems to have gone down. But we cannot make any conclusive statement yet,” he explained.

The  Matron at the Fistula Centre,  Mrs. Nwaofe Veronica, who spoke on how the facility is using family planning to tackle fistula, said: “Family planning is a  measure to prevent fistula. It helps repaired fistula patients to keep away from intercourse and pregnancy for at least one year.

“Patients are advised after surgery to wait for six months before having sex and another six months before pregnancy for total healing. Family planning helps these patients from having a relapse because their  systems are yet to recover from the trauma of the former pregnancy.

“My advice to women is that they should plan their families very well, have children by choice and not by chance. You need to do family planning so that whenever your husband comes, you  would not refuse him and he will not be promiscuous and there will be faithfulness in the marriage. Then you have time to train the children you have produced and the society will be okay”.

Giving insight into the challenges facing the centre, the Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Stella Nwaojiji, said they revolve around inadequacy of funds.  She said patients mobilisation was another big challenge. Her words: “Mobilising patients through the media takes some money. Since we don’t have the finance, it is difficult for us to use the well – known media. What we now do is to write letters to state governments for assistance.”