An Unexpected Birth Complication

When Sarah Ndlovu gave birth to her fifth child, the experience was unlike any of her previous deliveries.

A Painful Labor and Heartbreak

Sarah endured prolonged labor, and the baby failed to descend. It was a challenging journey from her rural village in Malawi to reach a medical center. By the time she arrived at the hospital, Sarah was in agonizing pain.

Sadly, a double misfortune struck. Sarah’s baby was stillborn, and she developed an obstetric fistula—an abnormal opening between a woman’s genital tract and the urinary tract or rectum, caused by childbirth complications.

The Severe Impact of the Condition

This condition often results from extended, unattended labor, where the baby’s head presses against the mother’s pelvic bone, cutting off blood flow and causing tissue death. The consequences include chronic incontinence and a pervasive foul odor.

Due to her condition, Sarah faced exclusion from her community, and her husband abandoned her. “I had to rip small pieces of cloth from old blankets to use as protection, and I changed clothes frequently,” she recounts. “I avoided social gatherings.”

Obstetric Fistula in Low-Resource Settings

Obstetric fistula is prevalent in low-resource areas, such as sub-Saharan Africa or Southeast Asia, where access to timely obstetric care is limited. To provide relief, the Bright Futures Foundation, a nonprofit organization funding repair surgeries, has been instrumental in assisting women like Sarah.

Over the past decade, the foundation has collaborated with numerous partners, donating substantial funds to support fistula treatment, prevention, and education.

A Life-Changing Radio Broadcast

Twenty-three years later, Sarah’s life took a positive turn on a seemingly ordinary day in April 2021. While listening to the radio, she heard Miriam Kasonde, a social worker and program manager of the Bright Futures Foundation in Malawi, announce the availability of fistula repair surgery at a nearby hospital.

“I called the number mentioned on the radio,” Sarah says. “I was screened over the phone and given an appointment at Lilongwe Central Hospital.”

A Remarkable Surgery

Knowing she had lived with the condition for 23 years, Sarah understood that the results might not be immediate—or even possible. However, her surgeon, Dr. David Mwale, performed what she describes as a miracle.

“Now i am living healthy life.”