This opportunity offered free surgery and free pre and post operation care. To make this chance known to all those who could benefit from it, we utilized all the media available to us. We made radio announcements, took out ads in the local newspapers and even sent out mass SMS / mobile phone messages.
The response was the largest ever at our hospital. Over 30 women, from both Somaliland and Somalia, took part in this fistula camp.
Many of the moving stories that were related to us by the women brought tears to our eyes. One particular story stands out of a woman who has been suffering from an obstetric fistula for 20 years. She visited every traditional healer and tried every outlandish method, but she was never told that her condition could only be repaired surgically. After 20 years, she is dry and we are so grateful that we were given the chance to help this woman and others like her. We are indeed blessed.
We’re grateful and proud that the visiting team contained 2 female surgeons from Ethiopia. They were excellent surgeons and well experienced and they were also great role models for our medical students, nurses and midwives and all hospital staff who worked with them.
This intensive fistula camp was also a great opportunity for Somaliland doctors to take part in the surgeries and work with an international team.
A simple thank you is not enough to express our gratitude for the support and excellence of the WAHA and UAE Red Crescent team. The qualifications of the professionals and the quality of the surgeries performed were inspiring and unequaled.
We very sincerely hope that WAHA and UAE Red Crescent will keep us in their future plans for a visit once or twice a year, as much work still remains.
