Fistula Care Podcast

With thanks to the Canadian Physiotherapy Association's Global Health Division we bring you this podcast on fistula care at Danja Fistula Center

http://globalphysio.ca/gp016-fistula-care-with-michelle-pieke/ 

Faces of Fistula

“What is today celebrating” was the opening question for our festivities yesterday.  On May 23, people around the world have the opportunity to think of those living with obstetric fistulas – those who leak urine (and sometimes feces) as a result of a prolonged or obstructed labour.  Life in Niger is hard.  Life with a fistula is even harder.  The focus of DFC’s Fistula Day ceremonies yesterday was granting the women that we serve a morning of fun and games, and to encourage them that others are thinking of them and supporting them. 

As I watched our ladies enjoying themselves, I wondered why they must face such social challenges.  Among the faces above, can you tell whose fistula repair re-opened?  Who continues to leak urine despite her fistula being closed?  Who has just arrived for fistula care?  It’s not so easy is it?  If you saw any of these faces in the street, would you think that they were those of fistula survivors?  How much easier our womens’ lives would be if people paid attention to their joyful faces rather than their wet skirts. 

Let us continue to work together to end fistula so that this little one will only hear stories from her mother about what it is like to live with a fistula, and not experience it for herself.

Women's Day

Often people here and people at home make the same assumption - that we share the same holidays.  Well, on Sunday, it was almost the case.  Here in Niger, May 13 is our national Women's Day.  This year, this special day fell on the North American Mother's Day.  When Women's Day falls on a work day, there is generally a good meal and a bunch of games.  This year we missed out on the festivities (though I heard afterwards that there had been a parade in the city), but it was extra special to think of all of the women around as well as all those at home, celebrating together. 

Based on what the "uniform" fabric said, the theme of this year's Women's Day was education of girls and supporting independence of women living in rural locations.  This fits beautifully with the goals of the Reintegration Program here at DFC.  While healing from fistula surgery, the women learn basic literacy skills and handiwork skills like embroidering baby wrappers and knitting baby hats to help them support their families financially on their return home.  Thank you for supporting this training!

To the Ends of the Earth

Recently, a lady came to DFC from a currently insecure area.  For weeks there was no one around who spoke her language.  Amazingly, Amy Fields, who came to provide the Trauma Healing training, works in Bible translation with this lady’s language.  Amy was able to bring this lady a phone loaded with audio and visual resources in her language.  Our patient was over the moon with this gift.  As she listened she repeated, “This is truth, this is truth”!  This past week, another young lady arrived from the same area.  How wonderful that they can share in learning about the truth of Jesus together.

In addition to these ladies from the east, DFC recently welcomed one from the west.  Another missionary met this lady who has been struggling with incontinence and leg pain, weakness, and contractures for over a year.  Knowing that, unlike the fistula centres closer to them, DFC offers physiotherapy services, she arranged for this lady and her mom to come to here - by SIMAIR.  Really, how cool is that?? 

The Power of Play

 A few of us try to go to the village at DFC each week to greet the ladies and just spend time with them.  A few weeks ago, we brought along a little car that runs by a pull string, and a nerf football.  It was incredible to see how much these two simple toys were enjoyed – by young and old alike!  It was also beautiful to watch how playing catch brought together ladies from multiple different languages and broke down any barriers there may have been.  There were a lot of missed catches and stray throws, but there was no judgement.  Each lady was included and encouraged by her neighbours.  For an hour we could be carefree and just have fun.  What a great gift that was to each one of us.

44 Years

Though it's easy to get lady's names and faces mixed up, one in awhile there is one who really sticks out in my memory.  We met one "old grandma" a few months ago.  She seemed rather stoney and pushy and "demanded" about when the doctor was coming to do her surgery (the Hausa grammar doesn't allow for questions to be asked more "politely", and most Hausa speakers have quite a rough tone of voice).  I didn't follow up much with her over her course of stay, but then a few weeks ago we sat down with her and heard her story.  She looks like she's at least 60, but she knows neither her age now, what age she was when she got married, nor how long it's been since she got married.  But she knows that she was leaking urine for 44 years.  And now she's leaking no longer!!  She was excited to whip up her ankle length skirts and show off her dry legs.  I can't even imagine what her life has been like, but I am so honoured to have been part of a centre who has opened up to her a new chapter in her ageless life.

Exercise class at the ‘Village’

Karla, a physical therapist who specializes in pelvic health and women’s health, has come to the Danja Fistula Center for her second visit. She helps local staff increase their knowledge and skills and they in turn guide women through exercises to decrease bladder leakage, pain, and leg weakness.

On the last working day of her visit she led more than 60 women affected by fistula through a series of exercises to increase overall muscle strength. 

We can guarantee you that none of these women had EVER attended an exercise class before! Everyone had a wonderful time, and one woman even participated with a baby on her back.