Malawi Program Helps 400 Fistula Survivors Rebuild Lives

Alfonsina Sankhulani spent three years trapped in her home, unable to attend church or visit neighbors because of a condition she didn't understand.

After a devastating four-day labor ended in stillbirth and emergency surgery at age 17, she developed obstetric fistula. The condition left her leaking urine constantly, leading to humiliation and isolation.

"It felt like a prison," she says. But after saving enough money, Alfonsina traveled to the Fistula Centre at Bwaila Hospital in Lilongwe, where her life transformed in three weeks.

The center, supported by the Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme and Freedom from Fistula Foundation, treats 400 women each year. Surgeons repair the physical damage while trainers teach practical skills like sewing and cooking.

For Alfonsina, the surgery worked. "I was finally dry," she remembers. "I felt free again."

She rushed to church the first day home and shared her story with the congregation. Now she spends time each month at local clinics educating young couples about fistula prevention, hoping to spare others her pain.

Why This Inspires

The center's most powerful advocates are survivors themselves. Former patients like Alfonsina bring in nearly half of all new cases by sharing their experiences in their communities.

Margaret Moyo, who manages the program at Bwaila Hospital, says they've treated over 4,000 women in the past decade. Many had suffered for 20, 30, even 40 years because rural communities often blamed the condition on witchcraft rather than recognizing it as a treatable medical issue.

The program conducts roadshows during market days to counter these misconceptions. Breaking the silence matters because shame keeps women isolated when help exists.

Beyond surgery, the center provides sewing machines and business training. Alfonsina now sews daily and sells her work at Sunday markets, supplementing her family's income.

She and her husband Duncan are even considering having another child, though they're waiting the recommended year after surgery. This time, they'll proceed with medical guidance and hope rather than fear.

The center doesn't just repair bodies. It restores dignity, builds community, and proves that freedom from suffering is possible when support meets courage.