For five years, 29-year-old Denise lived with an obstetric fistula, a childbirth-related complication that profoundly affected her life. After undergoing surgery at the Mokolo Regional Annex Hospital in Cameroon’s Far North Region in April 2026, she is gradually rebuilding her life.
“This operation has changed my life in many ways. Today, I feel like any other woman,” says Denise.
Obstetric fistula is a childbirth-related complication that causes continuous leakage of urine or faeces. In Cameroon’s Far North Region, several factors contribute to its persistence, including long distances to health facilities, limited access to emergency obstetric care, early marriage and adolescent pregnancy. Beyond its medical consequences, the condition often exposes affected women to social isolation, stigma, loss of income and significant psychological distress.
Denise experienced these consequences first-hand. “I could no longer stay among other people because of the smell. Even within my family, it was difficult,” she recalls. Like many other women living with the condition, she did not know that treatment was available.
She learned that treatment was available through teams from the local organization AJASEED and community volunteers. Through awareness-raising activities in villages and communities, they identified women showing signs of obstetric fistula and referred them to health services. Denise was among those who benefited from this support.
According to available estimates, around 2000 new cases of obstetric fistula are recorded each year in Cameroon. The 2018 Demographic and Health Survey estimated that 0.3% of women of reproductive age were living with, or had previously experienced, obstetric fistula. The northern regions of the country remain particularly affected, with many women still lacking access to the specialized care they need.
To help address the problem, the Ministry of Public Health, with technical and financial support from the World Health Organization (WHO), organized an obstetric fistula repair campaign at the Mokolo Regional Annex Hospital in March 2026. The initiative aimed to strengthen community awareness, identify affected women, conduct the necessary medical examinations and facilitate access to specialized surgical care.
Through awareness-raising activities conducted with support from AJASEED and community health workers, 60 women with signs suggestive of obstetric fistula were identified. Following medical examinations, 37 cases were confirmed. Twelve women underwent surgery during the campaign. The remaining 25 women will receive treatment during future campaigns, including one planned by the Ministry of Public Health in August 2026.
Dr Augustin Menang, Regional Reproductive Health Focal Point at the Far North Regional Delegation of Public Health, highlights the government’s commitment to improving access to care for women living with obstetric fistula.
“Obstetric fistula is a preventable and treatable condition. Our priority is to strengthen prevention and ensure that women affected by it can access quality care. No woman should have to live with this condition for years because she is unable to access treatment,” he explains.
At the Mokolo Regional Annex Hospital, patients received medical examinations, surgical treatment and the necessary post-operative follow-up care. According to Dr Clovis Ourtching, an obstetrician-gynaecologist and fistula repair surgeon, these campaigns are essential because the cost of surgery often remains beyond the reach of many women.
“Many patients live with this condition for several years because they cannot afford treatment. These campaigns allow them to receive surgery free of charge and return home following successful surgery,” he says.
Beyond surgical repair, prevention remains critical. Dr Ourtching notes that every pregnant woman should attend regular antenatal care consultations and give birth in a health facility with support from skilled health personnel. He also emphasizes that early marriage and adolescent pregnancy can increase the risk of obstetric complications.
WHO support for the campaign was made possible through funding from Hellenic Aid through the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This support helped finance surgical procedures while strengthening community case detection, raising public awareness and supporting coordination with health authorities.
For Dr Mathieu Yomog, Coordinator of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme in the Far North Region, the impact of the campaign extends beyond the surgical intervention itself.
“Fistula repair represents a life-changing transformation for women. It allows them to regain their health, dignity and place in society,” he explains.
The results of the campaign are encouraging. None of the 12 women who underwent surgery were experiencing leakage at the time of discharge from hospital and no major complications were recorded.
The experience in Mokolo demonstrates that effective community case detection, access to specialized surgery and strong coordination between health authorities, communities and partners can help restore the health, dignity and social inclusion of women living with obstetric fistula.
For Denise, the intervention marks the end of five years of suffering and the beginning of a new chapter in her life. Her message to other women living with obstetric fistula is simple. “I want to tell them not to hide, but to speak to their friends, doctors and anyone who can help them. Treatment is available,” she says.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.
