Accra: The contours of her jawline, once pleasant to men and a headgear could only be imagined as a beam of sunlight pierced her almost shut window. Ever since she had fistula, she has secluded herself from society and even family in order to avoid finger-pointing and holding of noses when she is around.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mavis, a 22-year-old fistula patient, hails from Sogakope in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region. Tears blinded her as she shared her harrowing experience, recounting how obstetric fistula has ravaged and disrupted her life. Once a vibrant seamstress, Mavis said the condition left her distraught and isolated for over three months due to the constant leakage, engulfing stench, and associated stigma. She could not continue her work or even maintain close contact with family, friends, and customers.
Mavis' turning point came when a radio advert indicated that the Ho Teaching Hospital (HTH) was to host fistula repair surgeries, free of charge at the facility. She appeared at the facility with financial support from family members, where the surgery was successfully performed. She is now optimistic about resuming her dressmaking venture and returning to normal life while passionately urging women experiencing similar symptoms not to delay seeking medical help.
Gertrude, another 20-year-old fistula patient, who was also ostracized and eventually lost her marriage due to the financial implications of the condition, has become a beneficiary of the free treatment regime. She has recovered fully and is now away from name-calling and stigmatization. Their recovery is a testament to the importance of access, awareness, and support for women suffering obstetric fistula in silence.
Thousands of women, like Mavis and Gertrude, suffer from obstetric fistula across the Volta region and Ghana at large. They continue to live in silence and agony due to deep-rooted societal stigma, judgment, and lack of financial resources, despite free repair services provided by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and development partners through international initiatives.
Professor Wisdom Azanu, a Consultant Urogynaecologist at the Ho Teaching Hospital, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that while Ghanaian women have relatively high attendance at antenatal clinics, the challenge arises during delivery. Many still opt for traditional birth attendants due to mistrust of health facilities or fear of being mistreated by healthcare workers.
Even when diagnosed, most patients live in remote areas and are isolated from treatment due to transportation difficulties to regional centers like the Ho Teaching Hospital, which serves Volta, Oti, and parts of the Northern Region. The GNA's visit to the Fistula Ward at the Ho Teaching Hospital (HTH) revealed only six patients on admission, with healthcare professionals expressing concern about the low turnout.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 50,000 to 100,000 women worldwide are affected by obstetric fistula each year. Globally, over two million young women are currently living with untreated obstetric fistula, particularly in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. However, obstetric fistula is largely preventable. Efforts to prevent and manage obstetric fistula not only reduce maternal deaths and suffering but also support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3), which aims to improve maternal health.
In Ghana, approximately 1,300 new cases of obstetric fistula occur annually, with an incidence rate estimated between 1.6 and 1.8 per 1,000 births. Despite the increasing number of cases, only 50 to 100 repairs are conducted each year, leaving a significant treatment gap and thousands of women living with the condition. Compounding the challenge is the lack of recent national data.
Obstetric fistula treatment is available in all major teaching hospitals in Ghana, including those in Tamale, Cape Coast, Kumasi, and Ho. However, many more repair centers are needed to reduce the burden on patients and their families. As Ghana aims to meet the 2030 target, the lives and dignity of countless women depend on breaking the silence, removing the stigma, and ensuring access to life-restoring care.
