A three-week fistula campaign has commenced in South Sudan’s Aweil State, health officials said.

The exercise is expected to benefit at least 50 female patients.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday, the Aweil civil hospital director, Reec Mathok Diing said a medical team will conduct operations on fistula patients and the campaign will take 21 days.

“Today [Wednesday] is the launching of fistula operations. The campaign is organized by the National Ministry of Health in partnership with Women and Health Alliance (WAHA) and other partners,” he said.

He further said cases not connected to fistula will be handled separately.

Agum Isaac, the director for mother healthcare at the health ministry, said more than 60,000 females suffer from fistula across South Sudan.

She attributed the disease to early marriages and lack of equipped health facilities to provide essential services to expectant mothers.

“We have over 60,000 cases in all our communities and we are trying every year to conduct campaigns in order to reduce the numbers by operating fistula-affected women,” Agum said.

Fistula is an abnormal connection between two hollow spaces such as blood vessels, intestines, or other hollow organs. It is usually caused by injury or surgery, but can also result from infection or inflammation.