Dear Friends,
I have set up this page on the Bwindi Hospital fundraising site to try and raise money specifically for the gynaecogical surgical camp that is happening this week. A team of doctors from Switzerland including two surgeons, two radiologists and an anaesthetist are volunteering their time and expertise for one week. The hospital currently does not have the skills to perform major operations so the upcoming camp will be wonderful for our patients. The main aim is to perform gynaecology procedures.
Despite our very good care of mothers in labour, some women are not able to access our services due to the long distances that they have to walk before reaching us, so they end up delivering from home. These mothers are often faced with prolonged obstructed labour and as a result can end up with a condition called vesicovaginal fistula or rectovagina fistula. In both conditions, a hole develops between the birth canal and the bladder or the rectum respectively.This happens because in obstructive labour the womens bladder, rectum and vagina are compressed between the babys head and the boney pelvis. If this is not relieved in time by caesarian section, the compressed muscles die and a hole develops. As a result, urine or faeces continuously leak through the birth canal. Not only does this have devastating physical symptoms (lifelong incontinence) for a young woman it also is associated with significant social stigma. When it is discovered that this is a chronic condition, the women are usually abandoned by their husbands, leading to social isolation with the added consequences of worsening poverty and depression.
Surgical intervention can repair these conditions and give these women their lives back. The visiting surgeons also plan to address other conditions whilst here including prolapses and uterine swellings (fibroids).
We have had a great response with 120 patients on the list all due to arrive on Monday for assessment. The patients only have to pay a small fee for their operation as the hospital is highly subsidsing the cost. The estimated running costs of the camp is £2500, which unfortunately has not been met through fundraising as yet so the deficit will come out of the already stretched hospital budget. Therefore I am asking for your contributions for this extremely worthwhile cause. Any amount will be greatly appreciated.
In anticipation thank you very much
Love Faye
