Fighters: Fistula survivors tell their story
Women's Hope asked two fistula survivors in Bangladesh how the birth injury changed their lives and how they continue to cope.
Hasina Begum and Nofisa Kathun are real fighters! While Nofisa has been operated on successfully, Hasina still suffers from the consequences of her fistula. The two are helping Women's Hope save more women from a similar fate. They raise awareness on fistula and campaign against child marriage. Watch their stories here:
The video and image material was created by Farhana Akther and fairpicture.org.
Cover picture: Hasina Begum (35), fistula survivor and community fistula advocate; photo: Farhana Akther/WHI/Fairpicture
What is a fistula?
A fistula is an injury that can occur if the birth process is severely delayed without adequate professional care. A hole forms between the bladder and the vagina or between the rectum and the vagina, causing incontinence. Those affected live with sometimes severe pain and great physical limitations.
Women's Hope International
Women's Hope International works to ensure that girls and women everywhere can live self-determined and healthy lives. Together with our partner organisations, we are committed to improving health services around pregnancy and birth in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Bangladesh and Chad. We empower women to claim their sexual and reproductive rights and to stand up against gender-based violence.
Our project in Bangladesh
End Fistula - Identify, Heal and Reintegrate women with fistula
In Bangladesh, many fistula sufferers do not know what causes their suffering and that fistula is curable in most cases. The End Fistula Project aims to reach, identify and treat those affected, as well as reintegrate them into society.
