At least over 75 fistula
patients are receiving free surgical treatment at St. Daniel Comboni Hospital
in Wau.
This initiative is a
collaboration between the Catholic Diocese of Wau and the Ministry of Health.
A fistula is an abnormal
connection between an organ, vessel, or intestine and another organ, vessel, or
intestine, or the skin. Fistulas can be thought of as tubes connecting internal
tubular structures, such as arteries, veins, or intestines, to one another or
to the skin.
The most common type of surgery
for anal fistulas is a fistulotomy. This involves cutting along the
whole length of the fistula to open it up so it heals as a flat scar.
Dr. Jurel Payii, the
coordinator in the Catholic Diocese of Wau, told Mayardit FM that so far, 50
patients have been operated on, and the surgical operation is led by doctors
from America, Australia, and South Sudan.
“The number has increased; last
year in October, we treated 45, and since the number has increased, we are
going to operate on 75 patients, but our target was 45 patients. Fistula
infections represent a significant health issue for women, particularly in
regions with limited access to healthcare,” said Dr. Jurel.
He encourages women to
deliver in hospitals to avoid complications during birth.
“I want to advise the community
to encourage their women to visit the hospital for checkups when they are
pregnant; also, delivering in the hospital can prevent complications that can
lead to fistula infraction.”