Nsanje DHO start offering Fistula Services

By Antony Isaiah Jr:….

People suffering from Fistula in Nsanje and Chikwawa District can now stop being referred to Bwaila Hospital in Lilongwe as Nsanje District Hospital has started offering the services of the mentioned condition.

This is so because four of the health workers at the institution had a one-month training at Bwaila Hospital from 1st to 31st August this year.

The Director of Health and Social Services, Dr. Gilbert Chapweteka confirmed the development saying its now time for women and girls who are suffering from the condition will now access the services at their door step.

“People with Fistula can now start accessing the services here at Nsanje District Hospital because four of our health workers had a one-month training at Bwaila Hospital. The training started on August 1 and ended on August 31. We are hoping for more clinicians to be trained for better improvement on providing Fistula Services delivery in the district on top of the already trained ones.

“Those to be referred to Bwaila Hospital are only those that we have failed to treat them here at our Hospital, and I urge all those with this problem to start visiting the facility to access the services,” said Chapweteka.

A fistula is an abnormal connection or passageway that connects two organs or vessels that do not usually connect. They can develop anywhere between an intestine and the skin, between the vagina and the rectum, and other places. The most common location for a fistula is around the anus.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are 50,000-100,000 new cases of fistulas every year. In places like Africa, obstetric fistulas are often left unaddressed due to lack of obstetric care. Thankfully in the United States, fistulas are often diagnosed early and cared for appropriately.
Prevention is the best treatment. Maintaining a good nutritional habit is a great way to maintain healthy tissue and to ward off fistulas. In addition, abstaining from smoking is important to promote fistula healing

In Africa, the most common cause of fistulas is childbirth and obstructed labor that is left unrelieved. While the incidence of fistulas due to complicated births is lower in the United States, other causes can create this troublesome condition.
Crohn’s disease and diverticular disease are well known to cause fistula formation. In addition, those who are undergoing radiation therapy are at greater risk for a variety of fistulas.