FREETOWN, Sierra Leone, 15 September 2023 – Thirty-two survivors of obstetric fistula were on 14 September discharged from the Aberdeen Women’s Centre after they had successfully undergone fistula and fistula-related surgeries, with support from UNFPA and the Government of Iceland. The patients had been with Aberdeen Women’s Centre since July 2023, receiving pre- and post-surgery care and participating in skills training programmes.

Twenty-four-year-old Sia Bonsu from Sandoh chiefdom, Kono district, was among those celebrating their discharge in a brief gladi gladi (singing and dancing) ceremony at Aberdeen Women’s Centre. The Centre is a healthcare facility, run by the Freedom from Fistula Foundation, that provides a broad variety of free services to women and children, including comprehensive fistula repair services.

Pregnant at age 16, Sia was taken to the Koidu Government Hospital in Kono for a caesarean section after she had developed critical birth complications and experienced painful labour for five days. Sadly, her baby did not survive. “This was devastating for me as a teenage mother, especially when I also later discovered that I had developed obstetric fistula,” she told the gladi-gladi gathering.

Obstetric fistula is a major childbirth injury caused by prolonged, obstructed labour or other birth related complications. It can result in incontinence, and often leads to chronic medical problems, depression, social isolation and deepening poverty.

“I was leaking urine unintentionally and it lasted for a long period. The man responsible for the pregnancy abandoned me because of the condition. After training as a teacher, there was a day I had gone to teach when some students complained of smelling urine in the classroom. That was embarrassing and shameful. Society was mocking me. My parents were uncomfortable with my situation,” Sia explained.

Through a community radio discussion in Kono, Sia gained knowledge about the work of Aberdeen Women’s Centre, a partner of UNFPA for fistula surgery. This eventually marked the beginning of her journey to recovery. In April 2023, she travelled to Freetown and visited the Centre. 

“I was assured by a nurse, that the condition was curable. Luckily, I later returned to Aberdeen Women’s Centre for the surgery. Now I am repaired with the help of the Centre and donors and I didn’t pay a cent,” a joyful Sia explained.

Rebecca Larsson, Country Director, Aberdeen Women’s Centre said, “UNFPA’s contribution to our fistula programme alongside our other partners helps Freedom from Fistula deliver high quality care to all our patients at the Aberdeen Women’s Centre. We are delighted that UNFPA continues to support our work and look forward to many more years of partnership.”

UNFPA is partnering with the Ministry of Health and the Government of Iceland to implement a comprehensive five-year programme to support elimination of obstetric fistula in Sierra Leone. The programme is aimed at institutionalising fistula prevention and treatment, strengthening quality of health services, and supporting social reintegration of fistula survivors.

Through advocacy and community sensitization, the programme also addresses harmful social norms which can lead to fistula cases, and supports social rehabilitation and reintegration programmes in partnership with Haikal Foundation in Bo.  

Speaking at the discharge ceremony for the fistula survivors, UNFPA Representative, Nadia Rasheed, called on them to be ambassadors in their communities by encouraging women with similar conditions to seek medical attention, and by advocating to end child marriage and reduce adolescent pregnancy to protect the health of women and girls.

“UNFPA is thankful to the Government of Iceland for providing generous support to accelerate the elimination of obstetric fistula in Sierra Leone. We also commend the dedicated work of Aberdeen Women’s Centre in conducting fistula surgeries and identifying and supporting survivors. These efforts are critical contributions to the National Strategy to Eliminate Obstetric Fistula under the leadership of the Ministry of Health,” Ms. Rasheed underscored.

"Iceland sees investment in fistula as a good investment for enhancing both gender equality and human rights which are priorities in Iceland’s development cooperation, and we are a proud partner to this important programme," said Ásdís Bjarnadóttir from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iceland.

As the ceremony ended, Sia Bonsu reflected that there are many women out there who are living with the condition. “I see myself as an ambassador to talk to them to come for treatment, but we need all the support we can get. I encourage donors to continue to support us to put more smiles on the faces of women living with fistula,” Sia appealed.  

Media Contacts:
John Baimba Sesay | Web and Media Analyst | UNFPA Sierra Leone |  jsesay@unfpa.org