Welbodi for Mama an Pikin - ' A look at Health Issues for Women and Children in Sierra Leone'

FISTULA TREATMENT IN SIERRA LEONE

On 16 July we were given an account of the problems faced by young pregnant women in West Africa. It was at times upsetting but also uplifting and it highlighted the value of the contribution our Club makes to the Fistula Foundation.

It was upsetting to hear of the distress suffered by young women as a result of fistula problems. There were few medical facilities and getting to a hospital often involved long and difficult journeys but without medical aid they were shunned by friends and family. It was uplifting to hear of the work done by volunteer organisations to tackle this situation; and it was satisfying to the Club to know the value of our lead role within Rotary in Scotland in supporting the Gloag Foundation.

The talk was given by two doctors who have worked at the Aberdeen Women's Centre in Sierra Leone. They are Dr Nad Narrainen-Poule and Dr Carolyn Ford - a husband and wife team. Nad is a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the Borders Hospital and Carolyn a registrar at the Edinburgh Royal. 

The Aberdeen Women's Centre - named not after our own Aberdeen but after an area of Sierra Leon's capital Freetown - was initially established by the American Mercy Ships organisation but is now supported by the Freedom from Fistula Foundation. This hospital fares so much better than other medical institutions in Sierra Leone which suffer from a chronic lack of trained staff, medical resources and even basic power and sanitation facilities.

It was explained that there continues to be distrust within the village communities and the Centre has to negotiate with village chiefs before arranging for fistula sufferers to be treated. The treatment requires a long stay at the Women's centre but the success rate is very high and the patients return home - after a farewell party! - to take up a full role in their village life.

Peter Cowlishaw thanked the speakers on behalf of the Club not only for a fascinating and informative contribution to the evening but also for the contribution they have made and continue to make to the young women of Sierra Leone.

Report by Mike Rowe