Six women boarding the MAF flight have spent the past few weeks recovering in a small maternity hospital run by the Evangelical Lutheran church (ELCAMSS) on the outskirts of Juba.
ELCAMSS Administrator Samuel Makoc Makur is here to see the patients off on a MAF flight from Juba back to their communities.
‘The fistula programme is our main outreach – we do it three time a year to help the vulnerable women who can’t afford surgery,’ Samuel says.
‘During this outreach we did 38 surgeries. We are limited for space in the wards which means we can only have up to 40 patients.
Thank you MAF for helping us with transport. It is one of the most important things that can help us do more and reach more ladies so that they can be able to come.
‘Last year we did 108. Out of that 18 came back for follow-up with the doctor. And all of them were successful.’
After surgery and a three-week convalescence – Samuel is happy to see the faces as the patients board the MAF plane home - back to their families.
‘Thank you MAF for helping us with transport. It is one of the most important things that can help us do more and reach more ladies so that they can be able to come.’
Samuel explains that patients have travelled from every corner of South Sudan in the hope of healing.
Obstetric fistula, internal tearing from a long or obstructed labour, can lead to stigma as long-term effects include leaking faeces or urine, or both.
After surgery, the fragile condition of the ladies makes it inadvisable for them to travel home by road. Bumping along in a vehicle can cause further injury and undo the surgeon’s good work, but MAF flights can help more women get home smoothly.
‘We had patients come by road from the hospital in Torit. We would prefer it if these women can go back by plane after the surgery as it is not safe for them to travel by road.’ Samuel says.
We are so happy that you are assisting us with flights and being partners also because the cost of this kind of surgery is very high.
The flight to bring six patients with corrected fistula back to their hometown is hopefully the first of many for MAF. ‘We are so happy that you are assisting us with flights and being partners also because the cost of this kind of surgery is very high,’ Samuel explains.
‘We focus on the welfare of the women. We need to feed them well so they can recover. Then there is the cost of medication. The money we are getting is not enough to cover all of the needs.’
The fistula programme is our main outreach – we do it three time a year to help the vulnerable women who can’t afford surgery.