Uganda Village Project

Many women are unaware that obstetric fistula, a common and devastating problem resulting from obstructed labor, is curable by a simply surgical procedure. Obstetric fistulae are formed when prolonged labor causes a hole between the vagina and the bladder or the GI tract.

Since 2005, Uganda Village Project has been working to address the issue of obstetric fistula in the catchment area of our partner nonprofit, People and Development Initiatives (PADI). The PADI clinic, in conjunction with UVP, has hosted education sessions for traditional birth attendants on obstetric fistula.

Education
Through our outreach to traditional birth attendants and other healthcare workers in the Iganga district, we have learned that there are widespread misconceptions about obstetric fistula - that it is uncurable, and that it is caused by a sexually transmitted infection. We have been working to combat these misconceptions not only through birth attendant education, but also by the use of community drama group performances designed to educate communities about fistula. Drama groups are a natural source for education on health issues that are commonly utilized by Ugandan village communities.

Treatment
In a dual approach to combat fistula, we have also worked to establish a partnership between PADI Health Centre in the Iganga district and a fistula repair centre in Kamuli district. At this site, women from the Iganga district can receive the curative surgery to repair their fistulae free of charge. Uganda Village Project has established a fund to provide the transportation costs for the women to travel to Kamuli, where fistula repair camps are held several times per year. We hope to expand this referral network in the future to other healthcare centres in the Iganga district.