By Wongani Mkandawire

Nkhotakota, May 16, Mana: National Coordinator for Freedom from Fistula, Margaret Moyo has hinted that orienting journalists would help in disseminating information about obstetric fistula.

Speaking during the capacity building training of journalist on obstetric fistula prevention, treatment and social reintegration which will be done through radio programmes and news articles in Nkhotakota District, she said the Media plays a vital role in disseminating information to masses as such capacitating journalists on obstetric fistula prevention and treatment would help to enlighten communities.

''I believe the Media has power to disseminate information and involve the community into different programs," Moyo explained.

She stressed that the strategy of using patient ambassadors is going on well as they help to identify clients in the fight to end obstetric fistula.

One of the trained journalists from Umunthu FM, Dyson Kamwana said the training was an eye opener to Journalists as it has imparted them with skills on how they could professionally report about obstetric fistula.

"We lacking the capacity on how we can report about obstetric fistula in newsrooms, this training has posed as an aye opener to us as we have been sharpened on how we can present the issues surrounding fistula professionally," he admitted.

According to statistics, Nkhotakota is one of the districts that is registering high cases of obstetric fistula citing seven cases of fistula that have been treated by the Bwaila Fistula Centre in Lilongwe hence there is need of more commitment.

Apart from treating women with fistula, Freedom for Fistula gives psych-social support for the patients to overcome the trauma that they have been facing in the communities that they are coming from.

Freedom from Fistula with funds from Government of Iceland is implementing a three-year project called Empowering women with obstetric fistula to ensure access to quality obstetric fistula care and social reintegration in Nkhotakota.