Faith was dreaming big but losing hope

This month, as we celebrate Mother’s Day, we remember those mothers who have lost their hope due to the life-long smell, shame and isolation of obstetric fistula. A fistula can occur when an unborn baby’s head puts too much pressure on a mother’s maternal tissues which restricts the blood supply. When the tissue dies it leaves a hole or fistula which can cause urine and faeces to leak uncontrollably. It has life-threatening consequences for mothers in the world's poorest places.

Obstetric fistula is the worst maternal morbidity and Nigeria accounts for 40 percent of global cases. It is a preventable and treatable condition but because of circumstances including poverty and lack of access to health care, an estimated 50,000–100,000 mothers worldwide develop this condition each year.[1]

Mothers with obstetric fistula are often excluded from daily activities, husbands frequently leave them and they are isolated from their village due to their incontinence. Many mothers live with the condition for decades unable to access the medical intervention that can change their lives.

Faith, a young Nigerian mother, faced the daily pain of constantly leaking bodily waste as a result of the traumatic birth of her son. Faith was “dreaming big” to earn an income by baking cakes and planning festive events. But no amount of “work hard” would earn enough money for her to pay for her obstetric fistula surgery.

With support from caring donors, cbm aims to ensure mothers with obstetric fistula in Nigeria have access to medical services provided by skilled doctors and nurses, can obtain the post-operative care they need, and are given assistance to start their own business so they can live independently.

Faith found the warm and welcoming wraparound care waiting for her a bus ride away, thanks to cbm-funded Sustainable Family Healthcare Foundation (SFHF).

Cbm invite you to become a part of this rare and remarkable ministry to mothers who would otherwise live a lifetime in secret and shame. Thanks to your generosity, mothers like Faith will be able to dream big. Please prayerfully consider sending your gift today to set mothers, like Faith, free from obstetric fistula, by phoning 0800 77 22 64 or on cbm’s website www.cbmnz.org.nz. Thank you.

Dr Murray Sheard received his PhD in Ethics and Philosophy from the University of Auckland. He has worked in international development for over 15 years and is the Chief Executive Officer of cbm New Zealand.

[1] World Health Organization - https://www.who.int/news-room/facts-in-pictures/detail/10-facts-on-obstetric-fistula