In response to pressure from rights groups, Zimbabwe’s government is now offering free treatment to women suffering from obstetric fistula, a condition that affects mothers after difficult labor and leaves them unable to control their bowels. The treatment is available at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital, where women from rural areas are among the first beneficiaries.
Twenty-three-year-old Chiedza, who has lived with the condition for seven years, expressed her relief after receiving surgery. “I couldn’t hold my feces after giving birth. I didn’t have the money for treatment, but when I heard about the free service, I came here. Now I can live a comfortable life,” she said.
Another patient, Tendai, developed the condition after giving birth at 16. “I would share nappies with my baby to block the smell. I almost committed suicide because people laughed at me. This procedure has given me hope,” she shared.
Dr. Stanley Ngwaru, a senior gynecologist, explained that the condition is common in young women with underdeveloped genital tracts, leading to complications during labor. “They suffer shame and social segregation,” he noted.
While the treatment is a positive step, Lucia Masuka of Amnesty International called for a stronger focus on prevention. “Offering treatment is good, but without preventing early pregnancies, it’s like mopping water from an open tap,” she said.
