It was touching, it was moving and it was a mixture of blues and bliss as Makida, Fulera, Fati, Naomi, Bintu, Sarah, Stella, and another Fati narrated their gripping stories and testimonies of transitioning from a life of despair to a life of dignity. These eight fistula survivors were featured in a documentary film and a booklet that was launched on the 18th of June 2015 at the Accra International Conference Centre. 

The Minister for Health, Mr. Alex Segbefia could not help but congratulate the women for their bravery in sharing their stories that would certainly help other women. After listening attentively to the women, the Minister admitted, “this event has given me the opportunity to appreciate women the more for what they go through in trying to give life to others through reproduction.” He stressed the need for strong collaborative efforts by major stakeholders in the country to develop and implement a time-bound strategy that would put an end to obstetric fistula in Ghana.

The Minister of Health announced that his Ministry was scaling up efforts aimed at ensuring access to timely maternal healthcare which is facilitated through the National Health Insurance Scheme and Community-Based Health Planning and Services program. Mr. Segbefia added that additional ambulance services with good radio communication networks were being put in place to ensure efficiency of ambulance services which will assist women in labour have quicker access to health facilities. He encouraged all present that are associated with this delicate and very important aspect of motherhood to work hard to maintain the dignity of women during and after delivery.

Speaking on the theme, “End Fistula, Restore Women’s Dignity,” UNFPA Representative, Babatunde Ahonsi said that in order to end obstetric fistula, it  was crucial to go beyond the medical treatment of obstetric fistula by addressing the underlying social and economic inequalities that result in the condition.  To him, elimination of the condition can be achieved by empowering women and girls, preventing child marriages and promoting education. Dr. Ahonsi revealed that approximately 1500 women have undergone fistula repair in Ghana, with nearly 200 benefitting from livelihood and income generating skills provided by UNFPA. He was, however concerned, that this modest achievement has come ten long years after UNFPA Ghana and its partners launched the National Campaign to accelerate progress towards eliminating fistula in the country. He commended the fistula survivors for sharing their stories to help change the lives of other women who would be encouraged by their example to seek medical help if they develop obstetric fistula. Dr. Ahonsi reiterated UNFPA’s commitment to ensuring that women always have safe delivery at birth.  

In a statement read on her behalf, the UN Resident Coordinator, Ms. Christine Evans-Klock encouraged more women to raise their voices on issues of obstetric fistula and expressed gratitude to all stakeholders involved in the campaign to end the condition.

Ms. Rosemary Ardayfio, the spokesperson for the Media and Communication Advocacy Network (MCAN) and an author of the life stories said they, as media persons, have taken it upon themselves to champion the cause of women suffering from Obstetric Fistula.  She stated that they have taken up this line of action because they have realized that this maternal health related illness, could easily be prevented and treated. She said they also observed that obstetric fistula had not been adequately highlighted by the media unlike some of the issues related to maternal health, hence their passion. 

On his part, the Chairman of the occasion, Ambassador Kabral Blay Amihere who is also the Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC) pledged the support of the NMC and encouraged the media to widely broadcast the documentary and educate the public on obstetric fistula.

The film documentary and booklet launch by UNFPA Ghana aimed at keeping the conversation and focus alive, comes barely three weeks after the global event to end obstetric fistula was marked on the same theme. The event was organised by the United Nations Population Fund in partnership with the Media Communications and Advocacy Network and the Media Foundation for West Africa.