UNFPA backs CCBRT in efforts to treat more women with fistula

UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador, Yuko Arimori, the marathon Olympic medallist from Japan, makes a tour of the CCBRT in Dar es salaam this afternoon.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has awarded a grant of 25 million shillings to CCBRT, Tanzania’s largest provider of surgical and rehabilitation services for people with disabilities. The funds will go towards CCBRT’s fistula work.

On Wednesday, UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador, Yuko Arimori, the marathon Olympic medallist from Japan, toured CCBRT along with a delegation from UNFPA and UNHCR to see first-hand the range of services offered by CCBRT. During the short trip, they visited the eye and orthopaedic departments, the prosthetic unit and the fistula ward.

In Tanzania, giving birth remains a big challenge. Every year 13,000 women die in childbirth and from pregnancy related causes. For every woman that dies, 20 others will suffer injuries such as fistula.

There are an estimated 1,200 new cases of preventable obstetric fistula annually in Tanzania. This devastating injury occurs as a result of prolonged and/or obstructed labour without timely intervention. In most cases the baby dies while the mother is left with the “tear” connecting the birth canal to other systems of the mother abnormally.

The condition isolates women who are left incontinent and cut off from their communities, often for many years. But fistula can be repaired. In 2009, CCBRT carried out 160 fistula surgeries and the organisation also facilitiated the treatment of another 30 women in hospitals in northern Tanzania. CCBRT wishes to increase those numbers and, as of this year, CCBRT Disability Hospital offers fistula surgery for free.

“Obstetric fistula occurs disproportionately among poor girls and women, especially those living far from medical services. The misery women with fistula face are relentless. In spite of one's best efforts to stay clean, the smell of leaking urine or faeces is constant and humiliating, often drives even loved ones away and isolates women from their communities and diminishes their chances to get out of poverty.

Sadly, most women with the condition do not know that treatment is available, or they cannot afford it. With initiatives such as CCBRTs fistula ward these women can be assisted to lead a life full of dignity and respect.” Dr. Julitta Onabanjo, UNFPA Representative said.

UNFPA in Tanzania strongly advocates for investing in universal access to sexual and reproductive health including maternal and neonatal health, and addressing obstetric fistulae within the context of the National Development frameworks, strategies, plans and budgets.

Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT) is the largest indigenous provider of disability and rehabilitation services in Tanzania.

Each year approximately 120,000 people directly access its services which include a disability hospital, community programme, an education programme and economic empowerment initiatives.

CCBRT also runs extensive national and international training programmes and is actively advocating for the rights of people with disabilities to be recognised at national policy level.

CCBRT’s main aim is to improve the quality of life for people living with a disability, their family members and caregivers to enable them to become full members of society.

In a public-private partnership with the Government of Tanzania, CCBRT is also in the process of establishing a new maternity hospital for Dar es Salaam region. Construction is due to begin in 2010 next to the current disability hospital in Msasani.

Erwin Telemans, CCBRT’s chief executive officer said: “There are three well known barriers to women with fistula coming forward for treatment: cost of surgery, lodging and transportation. While we are the second largest provider of fistula surgery in Tanzania we still have capacity to do more.

The challenge is encouraging women to come forward. We are delighted that UNFPA is now assisting us with that challenge and today we extend a warm welcome to UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador, Yuko Arimori.

With UNFPA support, we have been able to upgrade a hostel so we can give women free lodging while they await surgery and we have been able to introduce a new scheme which allows us to pay transport costs via mobile technology. These efforts will enable us to reach many more women in need of our services.”

At the very end of 2009, CCBRT began a pilot scheme using Vodacom’s M-PESA facility to transfer transport money via mobile phone to women in need of fistula surgery. Already eight women have come to CCBRT for operations through this method. By offering free surgery and follow-up, free transport and free lodging in Dar es Salaam for women with fistula, CCBRT hopes that many more women will come forward for treatment.

The majority of disabilities can be prevented through improved maternal and infant healthcare. In recognition of this, CCBRT has entered into a public-private partnership with the Government of Tanzania to establish a new 190 bed maternity hospital in Dar es Salaam.