58 women receive fistula surgery at Juba repair camp

Scrub nurse

Fifty-eight women have received surgery for obstetric fistula during a two-week medical camp in Juba, health officials and organizers said Thursday, as authorities called for fistula treatment to become part of routine surgical services.

The repair camp, held from Aug. 25 to Sept. 7, brought together medical teams from Amref Health Africa, the Ministry of Health, Juba Teaching Hospital and other partners to provide treatment to women affected by the condition.

The camp was formally closed Thursday at a ceremony attended by health officials, medical teams, partners and women who received treatment.

An additional 21 women underwent routine fistula repairs between July and August, according to Amref. Routine services will continue at Juba Teaching Hospital through the end of the year.

Camp lead Dr. Lado Wani Ismail thanked the Ministry of Health, partners, hospital administrators, medical teams and patient coordinators for supporting the initiative.

“The camp may be over, but the routine fistula services will continue,” Wani said.

For survivors, the surgery provided an opportunity to regain confidence and participate more fully in their communities.

Christine, 40, from Kapoeta, said fistula had kept her from freely participating in community life.

“I was tired of living with this condition. For a long time, I could not go anywhere in my community. I am now happy and excited about the future,” she said.

Viola, 20, also from Kapoeta, thanked organizations and medical teams that helped women travel to Juba for treatment.

Taban Patrick, representing Amref Health Africa, said the program demonstrated the importance of cooperation between government institutions, hospitals and health organizations.

“This has been a strong demonstration of what we can achieve when partners, government and health facilities work together,” Patrick said.

Patrick said the program aims to support 300 fistula repairs by the end of 2026, with 70 cases repaired so far through the camp and routine services.

He also called for stronger community-level identification and referral of women affected by fistula so they can access treatment earlier.

Akech, the Ministry of Health coordinator for fistula patients, called for fistula repair to be integrated into routine surgical services.

“Having a fistula surgeon stationed at Juba Teaching Hospital is an important step forward,” he said, adding that routine treatment would complement specialized repair camps elsewhere in the country.

The camp highlighted the need for continued investment in fistula prevention, community awareness, referral systems and access to specialized surgical care.