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Amnesty International Zimbabwe (AIZ) engaged the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health to fight obstetric fistula condition which affects women giving birth.
In a spotlighting breakfast meeting held in Harare this morning, AIZ executive director, Lucia Masuka said, “Obstetric fistula is an injury caused by prolonged, obstructed labour without access to timely and high-quality medical treatment.”
The meeting addressed the effects of the condition on the economic, social and religious life of a woman. It leads to a lack of self-esteem, discrimination against women and divorces in many marriages as people view it as an act of bewitchment.
Amnesty campaign officer, Tinashe Mujuru said, “Those with low income from the marginalized communities are most affected by the problem as it needs more personal and hygienic care to access adult pumpers, those who cannot afford shun away from people and fail to go to work.”
Parliamentarians are urged to stand with the marginalized and seek a huge and enough budget to boost the clinics and hospital facilities, educate people from their constituencies about the serious dangerous condition, motivate women to use medical facilities in childbearing as prevention is better than cure.
Honourable Daniel Molekele, Chairperson of the portfolio committee on health appreciated AIZ efforts in reaching out to parliamentarians to share knowledge of such a condition affecting some women giving birth.
“If you had not done this who else could have done it, we heard about this physical issue (obstetric condition) from you Amnesty and not from any other, will stand to support your efforts,” said Molekele.
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