In a renewed push to eliminate Obstetric fistula, TERREWODE has conducted a media training workshop in Soroti, bringing together journalists from Northern and Eastern Uganda.
The training aimed to enhance media capacity to raise awareness about obstetric fistula, promote prevention, and encourage early treatment for affected women.
The condition, which is largely preventable, leaves survivors with continuous leakage of urine or faeces, often leading to stigma and social isolation.
During the sessions, survivors who have undergone fistula repair shared their experiences, highlighting both the physical and emotional toll of the condition.
They also received support to aid their recovery and reintegration into society, while urging women to seek medical attention promptly when symptoms such as continuous leakage appear.
Alice Emasu Seruyange, the Executive Director of TERREWODE, said the organisation has registered significant progress over the past 25 years in reducing the prevalence of fistula in Uganda.
She noted that cases have declined from over 200,000 to about 75,000, attributing the progress to collaboration with partners including the Ministry of Health Uganda, medical professionals, and the media.
Despite these gains, she cautioned that the fight is far from over. The organisation’s hospital continues to receive about 10 new patients every day, most of whom require surgical intervention.
Seruyange called for renewed commitment from communities and stakeholders to prevent new cases, particularly by addressing prolonged obstructed labour, which remains the leading cause of the condition.
Obstetric fistula is a serious and largely preventable childbirth injury that occurs when prolonged, obstructed labour creates a hole between a woman’s birth canal and her bladder or rectum, leading to continuous leakage of urine or faeces.
It is most common in areas with limited access to timely and quality maternal healthcare, particularly emergency obstetric services such as Caesarean sections.
Beyond the physical effects, the condition often results in severe social and psychological consequences, including stigma, isolation, and loss of livelihood.
Despite being treatable through surgery, many women live with the condition for years due to lack of awareness, poverty, and limited medical services, making prevention through improved maternal care and early intervention critical.
Uganda has also made strides in reducing maternal mortality. However, the country still records more than 1,900 new fistula cases annually, underscoring the need for improved access to maternal health services, timely referrals, and sustained community awareness.
By engaging journalists and amplifying survivor voices, TERREWODE hopes to accelerate efforts to eliminate obstetric fistula and ensure that affected women regain their dignity and quality of life.
