MaraviPost iReport: In a move aimed at preventing high cases of Fistula diseases, Bwaila Fistula Care Centre has urged journalist in the country to effectively report on ‘Kadzamikodzo’ prevention technologies for success of the country’ development.
The call was made during a second group of patient ambassador training program on prevention of Fistula Wednesday in Lilongwe at Bwaila Care Centre Unit.
Speaking when she opened the meeting, Country Program Coordinator Maglet Moyo recommended that journalist play a crucial role in disseminating information.
“Southern Africa remains the epicenter of ‘Kadzamikodzo’ bemoaning the tendency of discrimination and lack of knowledge. Spreading the messages collectively can reduce high rate of infection: hence, considerations of new prevention technologies are one of the ways out”, she said.
Further citing challenges of long distance travelling, financial problems are the limiting factors affecting the process of spreading information of ‘Kadzamikodzo’ by the women ambassadors in Malawi resulting in deaths.
In her remarks Liness Banda (Kasungu), one of the participants emphasized that the training will help both journalist and the patient ambassadors to communicate accurately on ‘Kadzamikodzo’ disease.
She expressed dissatisfaction that the distance in travelling hinders the exercise of spreading the messages of the critical disease which affect birth canal. As a solution, Banda suggest that to help curb the problem government need to allocate more Fistula Care Centers in the community villages.
The workshop was supported by UK Kingdom Fistula Foundation which has donated bicycles to the Ambassadors for travelling. Bwaila Care Unit has managed to treat and cure 750 patients of ‘Kadzamikodzo’ and is expected to reach thousands of patients to improve the health livelihoods.
What are the symptoms?
A vaginal fistula is painless. But a fistula lets urine or feces pass into your vagina. This is called incontinence. And it can cause soiling problems that you cannot control.
• If you have a vesicovaginal fistula, you most likely have fluid leaking or flowing out of your vagina.
• If you have a rectovaginal, colovaginal, or enterovaginal fistula, you most likely have foul-smelling discharge or gas coming from your vagina.
• Your genital area may get infected or sore.
How is a vaginal fistula diagnosed?
Your symptoms are the most clear signs of a vaginal fistula. Your doctor will want to talk about your symptoms and about any surgery, trauma, or disease that could have caused a fistula. For a physical exam, your doctor will use a speculum to look at the vaginal walls. You may have other tests, such as:
• The use of dye in the vagina (and maybe the bladder or rectum) to find all signs of leakage.
• Urinalysis to check for infection.
• Blood test (complete blood count) to check for signs of infection in your body.
Your doctor may also use an X-ray, endoscope or MRI to get a clear look and check for all possible tissue damage.
Source WEBMD
