South Sudan to set up fistula center in main referral hospital

By Awan Achiek

South Sudan’s Ministry of Health on Tuesday revealed plans to set up it’s first fistula center within the main referral Juba Teaching Hospital.

Dr. Michael Mading, Director General of Reproductive Health in the Ministry of Health, said the center will run routine special care and raise awareness about the dangers of fistula.

“We are working collectively to ensure that we have routine fistula center in Juba Teaching Hospital, we trained a good number of cadres and are working now,” Mading said during commemoration of Mother’s Day in Juba.

A fistula is an abnormal connection between two body parts, such as an organ or blood vessel and another structure. Fistulas are usually the result of an injury or surgery.

Obstetric fistula is caused by prolonged and complicated labor without timely medical intervention.

It often affects young girls whose bodies are not yet fully developed.

Affected women are unable to control the flow of urine and blood.

 If not detected and treated patients may not give birth.

Fistula affects about 60,000 South Sudanese women, according to the health ministry.

Mading disclosed that the ministry has already launched national fistula campaign to help raise awareness about the prevention and treatment of fistula among women.

“We have a strategy to ensure that a mother who has fistula is reached in this country and we have done a number of fistula campaigns,” said Mading.

He stressed the need to increase access to obstetric fistula services in the country.

“We need to restore the dignity of our mothers, they should not have obstetric fistula and we are working collectively also to ensure that we reach mothers with the right information especially on family planning,” said Mading.