She had developed a fistula following her first and only delivery, which resulted in a stillborn.
Several months later, she lost the ability to hear or speak following a serious illness. This further isolated her from her family, community and diminished her ability to access treatment.
Hauwa was 60 years old when she became aware that the fistula she had suffered with for over 40 years could be repaired for free at our partner hospital, Evangel Vesico-Vaginal Fistula Center (EVFC).
Hauwa’s story changed thanks to the kindness of a nephew’s wife, who discovered that the isolated woman was not only deaf and mute, but was also incontinent due to a fistula.
The woman convinced Hauwa’s family to take her to EVFC, where she underwent a successful repair surgery and left the hospital completely continent.
Despite her other disabilities, Hauwa was overjoyed to be free from fistula and thanked hospital staff for turning her “sadness to joy.”