Patient Stories: Solofina
Solofina got married at the age of 18. She has stayed with Rectovaginal Fistula (RVF) for 4 years as she did not know what it was, she believed that she was bewitched by the people in her village as she was the only person with this condition.
Following the birth of her third child Solofina was left with a fistula. She was referred to many hospitals but no treatment offered worked, particularly as hey kept sending her home telling her to take a lot of water and the condition would stop. When we hear stories like this we resolve to work tirelessly to raise awareness of the condition, how to prevent it and how to treat it.
Solofina's first husband left her and she remarried. When she was pregnant again for the 4th time she delivered through c-section due to the RVF and after 3 months was sent to our Fistula Care Centre for surgery. It was successful and she was healed after so many years of suffering.
Upon discharge Solofina received a solar charging station as part of our micro-enterprise initiative. She charges phones for a fee and lights her home. So far (Dec 2023) Solofina has made MK 66,100. She charges MK 200 per phone. Solofina some of the money in a sweet beer business. She has made MK 200,000 of which she has saved MK 150,000 in the village bank and the rest she used to buy things for her family such as pay school fees for her children and food. Solofina is passionate about being an entrepreneur and being able to support her family. She spends time in her garden growing vegetables, maize and groundnuts to feed her family and sells the surplus. Money saved will go towards 4 bags of fertilizer for this years cultivation period.
“I’m happy am free from fistula and I have received the solar panel which is helping me in a number of ways, thank you Fistula care centre. Continue the good work.”
