“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.