In a collaborative effort between the national health ministry, Lakes State Ministry of Health, and international health partners, a fistula surgery campaign commenced at the Rumbek State Hospital in Lakes State on Monday.
Dr. Terran Madit Terran, the Medical Director at Rumbek State Hospital, told Radio Tamazuj that 17 women had already been lined up for surgery. He said the activity has been done in so many hospitals in other states and that it was the turn of Lakes State.
“So far we have confirmed 17 patients that have been scheduled for surgeries. Today we are starting with 5 patients and they have already started the surgery but the total is 17 patients,” he explained. “However, we are expecting so many fistula patients to come from across the whole Lakes State. Some patients may also come from neighboring states but they will first be assessed and when they meet the criteria for fistula surgery, they will be considered.”
“I want to thank the National Ministry of Health and leadership of the Lake State Ministry of Health for the great work they have done in terms of coordinating and lobbying for this very important initiative in Lakes State,” Dr. Madit added.
He emphasized the importance of raising awareness about fistula, its treatability, and the need for community leaders and stakeholders to encourage affected individuals to seek help.
For his part, Akech Deng Khon, the Fistula National Coordinator at the National Health Ministry, said the surgeries are done free of charge. He said it is important to address fistula as it afflicts many women, robbing them of their ability to work and leading to social isolation.
“Fistula is a disease that can affect women when there is leakage from the urinary tract and it impairs the woman’s ability to work, and often families abandon such women,” Deng explained. “As the national and state ministries of health, we must work hard to address this disease through surgeries to give our women comfort,” Khon affirmed.”
To ensure the campaign’s success, radio talk shows have been initiated to raise awareness, and Dr. Barnaba Bol Amukpiu, the Acting Director General at the Lakes State Ministry of Health, encouraged community leaders, chiefs, and the public to inform affected women of this opportunity for free surgical intervention.
“Our job is to inform everyone in Lakes State that there is an activity going on in the state hospital. That the Fistula campaign and operation is going on now and we ask people to come,” Dr. Bol urged. “This is our message to all counties in Lakes State, chiefs, and the community to inform those women to come urgently.”