Dokolo, Uganda | A surge in the number of women seeking fistula treatment in Dokolo has laid bare persistent gaps in maternal healthcare, even as a free medical outreach offers renewed hope to survivors.
Over 120 women turned up at Dokolo Health Centre IV on Thursday for screening under a one-day intervention spearheaded by CoRSU Rehabilitation Hospital, with support from Fistula Foundation.
The unexpectedly high turnout, health workers say, reflects a silent but widespread burden of obstetric fistula in rural communities, where access to skilled birth services remains limited.
Dr. Judith Stenkamp, a fistula surgeon and program coordinator at CoRSU, said many of the cases stem from prolonged or obstructed labour, a condition that often goes unmanaged due to delays in accessing proper medical care.
“Fistula is preventable, yet we continue to see many cases because women either reach health facilities late or rely on unskilled birth attendants,” she noted.
She added that the condition, medically known as vesico-vaginal fistula (VVF), leaves women with uncontrollable leakage of urine or faeces, often resulting in social rejection, stigma, and economic hardship.
The outreach, which included counselling and mentorship sessions, also highlighted underlying factors such as low uptake of family planning services and early pregnancies, particularly among teenage girls.
Health officials warn that without strengthened community awareness and improved maternal health services, such cases will persist.
Despite the challenges, the outreach has provided a lifeline. Women diagnosed with fistula will be referred for free surgical repair at CoRSU, a move expected to restore not only their health but also dignity and social inclusion.
Some survivors who previously underwent successful treatment shared testimonies of recovery, describing how they had regained confidence and resumed normal life after years of suffering.
Dokolo District official Mr. Ocen Denis Oruba urged affected women to take advantage of the free services, emphasizing that treatment is fully funded and accessible.
“This is an opportunity for our people to get help without financial burden. We encourage families and communities to support those affected,” he said.
Experts now argue that beyond treatment, addressing fistula requires sustained investment in maternal healthcare, promotion of family planning, and discouraging unsafe delivery practices—measures they say are critical in preventing new cases.