Life before fistula Neima doesn’t know how old she is. In her village, age isn’t a concern, survival is. When asked what their age is, Neima and her peers estimate. The second youngest in a family of five children, Neima’s childhood was spent looking after family animals and assisting her mother at home before she […]...
Hawa has two daughters and a son – who all have children of their own – and for most of their lives, Hawa has lived with an obstetric fistula....
After six days of unbearable pain she finally gave birth. Her baby was dead. Mekdes was left with a double obstetric fistula, leg injuries and was paralysed....
The long labour has severely damaged Tekiya, she suffered a double obstetric fistula and her legs were swollen which made her unable to walk....
When she fell pregnant, giving birth in a hospital was not even a consideration. It was literally impossible. She suffered a protracted labour for five days....
When her labour began, her family soon realised that something was terribly wrong. After four days, Aster finally gave birth but her child was dead. Aster, herself was barely alive....
Ruziya got married and soon after fell pregnant - she and her family were overjoyed. She continued to spend each day at work and prepared to have a home delivery like so many before her....
After four long, painful days passed without any sign of the baby, Belaynesh fell unconscious. Her family rushed her to the nearest health facility in another village....
Beburuyosh felt worthless and ashamed. Whilst she was lucky to have a supportive husband, father and sister, she still felt isolated and could no longer contribute fully to her village community....
Toyiba’s pregnancy went smoothly and she spent the final three months of her pregnancy at her mother’s home in preparation for the birth of her baby. But then everything changed. ...
A lonely childhood Shewaye was born and raised in a small town close to our Yirgalem Fistula Hospital in Southern Ethiopia. Her father passed away when she was just a child, leaving her mother responsible for caring for the family. The family’s income is fully reliant on the small piece of land that they farm. […]...
Naniye was left with an obstetric fistula after her labour was obstructed for three days. Doctors told Naniye she was lucky to be alive. Sadly her baby was stillborn and she was left permanently incontinent of urine....
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