Judgment
Do you see me?
Can you hear me cry?
What did you see when you looked in my eyes?
I see you—walking away
Wondering why some one would want to live this way?
I don’t…
You know…
Want—to—live—this—way
Next time ask me— you may be surprised by what I have to say.
What she may have to say is that 7 years ago she was 14 years old and newly married. Shortly after her wedding she became pregnant and after seven and a half months—she was finally going to become a mother……
She may say that when she went into labor the baby wouldn’t come. That she was in so much pain; that her mother-in-law and her mid-wife told her to walk so the baby would come out. She may tell you how, no matter how hard or how long she pushed her child refused to be born.
She may tell you the relief that she felt when after those three days, she gave birth. Or she may tell you the new pain she felt when she was told that her baby had died.
Or—she may tell you that she now—at the age of 21—still has an injury that was the result of her trying to give birth to her dead baby.
The Facts:
Women who develop fistulas have been in labor for many days. Their babies cannot pass through their birth canal. The constant pressure of trying to force the delivery of the baby results in the loss of blood to pelvic tissues. These tissues then die and result in fistulas.
Obstetric Fistula is a hole that develops during and after prolonged child birth. This hole, develops between either the vagina and the rectum—rectovaginal fistula—or between the vagina and the bladder—vesicovaginal fistula. Both types of fistula result in permanent incontinence.
This type of child birth injury was eradicated in the United States late in the 19th and early 20th centuries with improved obstetric care and the use of c-sections. However, fistulas are still a major problem in Africa and parts of Asia.
I am a Black woman who at the age of 14 became pregnant. If for what ever reason, I was not born in the United States when I delivered my daughter 2 months after my 15th birthday–I too—may have been a woman suffering from obstetric fistula. Truth be told—so could any woman who has ever had a cesarean section to assist with the delivery a child.
Women who have Obestric Fistulas are not apart of society. Most likely, if you passed through their villages you would never see them. This is because their family house them in the shed with the livestock as a result of the smell of their incontinence. Sometimes these women are not fed because to feed them is to feed the incontinence that follows them where ever they go. They are a shame to society and to their families and if left untreated, these women are barren, and thus worthless to their husbands.
In the 1950’s Dr.s Reginald and Catherine Hamlin opened what is now known as the Addis Ababa Fistula Hosptial. The Hospital was opened in the captil city of Addis Ababa, Ethopia. At the Addis Ababa Fistula Hosptial all patients are treated free of charge. In May of 2005, the Addis Ababa Fistula Hosptial opened its first mini-hosptial site— The Hamlin Fistula Hospital—in the city of Brahir Dar; just North of Addis Ababa.
Not only do these hosptials fix these womens bodies, they help to present these women back to their communities. Every woman who leaves the Addis Ababa Fistula Hosptial has received post-operative care, classes in health and basic literacy, and bus fare home(most patients have to walk miles to the facility).
There are some women whose fistulas are too severe to correct. For these women, Addis Ababa has built Desta Mender. These women are given food, shelter, an education, and most importantly—long term care. They are also trained to care for other women in their situation. The women also make handicrafts which they sell to support themselves .
This is healing at its best. These hosptials heal the body, the mind, and the future. Addis Ababa has treated over 30,000 women who have been educated to know how to help another woman. These women have been taught what, why, and how this has happened to their bodies; then sent to tell the tale. This is a great first step to eradicating obstetric fistula and teenaged marriage.
I have been donating to Addis Ababa at for at least 8 years. I donate a set amount every month; if I am blessed with extra, they are blessed with extra. The extra is because I cannot give the $450.00 it costs to treat 1 woman’s fistula, but at the end of the year I know I have helped at least one woman’s life become a little easier.
Please remember—that Obsteric Fistulas are treatable. None of these women have to live—this—way…
You can make donations to:
The Fistula Foundation
1171 Homestead Road, Suite 265
Santa Clara, CA 95050
For more information please visit:
www.fistulafoundation.org
or
www.endfistula.org
www.engenderhealth.org
