Fistula Survivors Call for Massive Recruitment of Midwives Nationwide
By Kidega Livingstone
Obstetric fistula survivors have called on the government to urgently recruit more midwives to strengthen maternal healthcare and prevent childbirth-related complications.
Speaking at Juba Teaching Hospital during the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula, Amal Hellen Lam—a fistula survivor and trained midwife—appealed to the Ministry of Health to employ thousands of qualified, yet currently unemployed, midwives.
“The government should recruit us so that we can educate mothers about the dangers of obstetric fistula and how it can be prevented,”
Lam said, noting she currently works as a voluntary fistula mobilizer in Juba County.Lam added that while many trained midwives are eager to serve, they lack employment opportunities, fair compensation, and reliable transportation. She also emphasized the need for community awareness campaigns so women know where to seek timely antenatal care.
“We do not want obstetric fistula to continue affecting women,” Lam said. “Community mobilization and awareness are needed so that women know what to do during pregnancy.”
The event was organized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). At the commemoration, Association of Gynecologists and Obstetricians of South Sudan (AGOSS) President Idioro Ijuku urged the government and development partners to invest in specialized medical training.
“As South Sudanese, we need to make sacrifices for our country,” Ijuku said. “More doctors should be trained in fistula management so that treatment services can be expanded across all ten states and the three administrative areas.”
Dr. Paul Basan, a fistula officer at the Ministry of Health, acknowledged the steep hurdles remaining for maternal health. He noted that women in remote areas still struggle to access healthcare due to poor infrastructure, weak referral systems, and a severe shortage of skilled health workers.
Central Equatoria State Minister of Gender, Child, and Social Welfare Elizabeth Lugor called for holistic support for survivors, stressing the need for social, economic, and psychological assistance to help them reintegrate into their communities.
According to UNFPA, obstetric fistula remains one of the most devastating childbirth injuries in South Sudan. Primarily caused by prolonged, obstructed labor without timely medical intervention, the condition results in chronic incontinence, severe social stigma, and isolation.
UNFPA estimates that roughly 60,000 women in South Sudan live with obstetric fistula, while fewer than 1,000 have received surgical treatment.
The agency continues to support surgical campaigns, train medical personnel, and work alongside the Ministry of Health to implement the National Obstetric Fistula Strategy. Health experts maintain that investing in and deploying midwives remains the most effective way to curb the country’s high maternal mortality rate and protect women in underserved rural communities.
