By Brian Wasili                          

Mwanza, July 3, Mana: As a way of scaling up message dissemination about fistula, chiefs in Mwanza District have been sensitized on signs and symptoms and dangers of fistula, so that their subjects should have accurate information.

Speaking during a sensitization meeting with the local leaders in the district on Tuesday, Mwanza District Hospital, Safe Motherhood Coordinator, Patrick Ganizani said that engaging traditional leaders in the fight against the disease would be the right approach to take, since these live with people who suffer in silence in their areas.

“People we are targeting stay in the communities. The chiefs are in a better place to carry the message to their respective community members,” said Ganizani.

A health worker at Mwanza District Hospital, Rhoda Golowa hailed the meeting saying it provided her with extra knowledge about the disease such that she will encourage women in her catchment area to go for fistula testing.

‘Now that I have gained extra knowledge about the disease, I will be able to explain to women and young ladies about effects of the disease so that they should come out for testing and get necessary treatment,” added Golowa.

Inkosi Kanduku Maseko who also attended the meeting, commended the organizers for the meeting, saying it helped him to get insights on the disease and current status in the district.

‘We are going to share the same information to our subjects and I am sure this will trickle down very well in our respective areas,” said Kanduku.

Fistula is a non-communicable disease which affects women of child bearing age and mostly occurs from an injury which occurs during delivery.

This year, Mwanza District Hospital referred 11 fistula patients to Bwaila Hospital in Lilongwe for treatment.