Togo Launches Free Surgical Campaign to Restore Dignity for Women with Fistula and Prolapse
A significant humanitarian initiative is offering a lifeline to women in Togo suffering from the debilitating effects of obstetric fistula and genital prolapse. From November 2nd to 15th, the Saint Jean de Dieu Hospital in Afagnan will host a free treatment campaign, providing essential surgical care at no cost to patients.
A Collaborative Effort for Women’s Health
This vital program is spearheaded by the network “Women, Law and Development in Africa-Togo” (WILDAF-Togo), in collaboration with the Mutual Aid and Solidarity Hub of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God. The campaign is bolstered by support from various partners dedicated to advancing women’s health and rights across the region.
As a cornerstone of WILDAF-Togo’s annual humanitarian efforts, the campaign goes beyond mere medical intervention. It offers free consultations and surgical procedures, with all associated expenses—including hospitalization and medication—fully covered. The initiative also incorporates educational sessions for patients and their families, focusing on the prevention and long-term management of these challenging conditions.
More Than Medicine: Restoring Dignity and Rights
The overarching mission is to champion women’s rights and improve maternal health outcomes. For many women, conditions like fistula result in profound social isolation and psychological distress. This campaign aims to break that cycle, restoring not just physical health but also personal dignity and the fundamental right to quality reproductive healthcare.
How can a community thrive when its mothers and daughters suffer in silence? The organizers are calling on community, religious, and traditional leaders to actively participate and champion this cause. Their support is considered crucial to the campaign’s success and to building a future where no woman has to endure the preventable suffering caused by obstetric fistula and genital prolapse.
Understanding the Conditions: A Hidden Burden
Obstetric fistula is a severe childbirth injury, often occurring after prolonged, obstructed labor without timely medical intervention. It leads to a hole between the birth canal and bladder or rectum, causing chronic, uncontrollable leakage of urine or feces. The consequences extend far beyond physical discomfort, often leading to social stigma, abandonment, and deep psychological trauma.
Genital prolapse, medically known as pelvic organ prolapse, involves the weakening of pelvic floor muscles, causing organs like the bladder, uterus, or rectum to descend into the vaginal canal. This condition can manifest as a persistent sensation of pressure, discomfort, pain, and a variety of urinary or digestive issues, severely impacting a woman’s quality of life.
This two-week surgical camp represents a beacon of hope, addressing critical healthcare gaps and empowering women to reclaim their lives and their place in society.
Source: ATOP