On Thursday I saw the documentary 'Walk to be beautiful' which is the story of five Ethiopian women who have a fistula - a hole between their vagina, rectum and bladder. This means they constantly leak urine and feaces. It is caused when women are in obstructed labour, which occurs when the baby gets stuck and they labour for days. Sadly, the baby usually dies.
The film looks at the inspirational work that is being done at the Fistula Hospital in Addis Ababa. In many ways, the film is incredibly sad because you know that there are thousands and thousands of women throughout the world who suffer from this terrible condition and its implications. At the same time, the film brings an amazing message of hope.
If you live in the USA, you can watch the film on the Internet:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/beautiful/program.html
For those of you who live outside the USA, you can read more about fistula and the work of Dr Catherine Hamlin at the Nova web site. And if you ever get the chance to see the film, please do go. It is truly challenging and if nothing else, makes you grateful for the midwifery and medical care you receive in developed countries.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqccULujzJo&feature=related
2 comments:
there are many horrors in this world, but days of obstructed labor, a fistula and a dead baby... i can't even think of it. thank you for spreading the word.
Yes, I know. And of course, that's the women who actually survive this. Thousands more women die from obstructed labour in developing countries. I take so much for granted. Watching this film certainly made me count my blessings.
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