Abigail Muleba, a 29-year-old fistula survivor who suffered in silence for years is a proud community volunteer assisting women access life-changing fistula surgeries. But just a year ago, Abigail was one of the women seeking help.

At the age of 17, living in a rural area with limited access to SRHR information and services, Abigail became pregnant and gave birth at home. Complications during labor led to the development of obstetric fistula.

"I started noticing that I was unable to control my urine, and it kept getting worse. I thought it was just a normal part of pregnancy, but it didn't stop.   Eventually, I started having a foul smell, and I felt ashamed. I withdrew from everything—my school, my church, and my community. I didn't understand what was happening to me, and neither did my family," Abigail recalls.

Abigail lived in isolation and the stigma until a   community health worker came to her village and sensitized the community about obstetric fistula that Abigail finally understood her condition.

“The symptoms they described were exactly what I was experiencing. I decided to sign up for a fistula   repair camp at the hospital,” she shares.

Abigail’s decision to seek treatment was life changing. She is one of the many women who received a successful fistula repair through a UNFPA supported specialized fistula camp, conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of health. The fistula repair camps provide women and girls with not only life-saving surgery, but emotional and psychological support, rebuilding their dignity and confidence. 

“The surgery and the care I received at the camp restored my life. I now walk with my head held high, no longer ashamed. I feel empowered, and I know I am not alone. This experience has   motivated me to help other women who are suffering from the same condition,” Abigail says.

In addition to her role as a community volunteer, she actively helps raise awareness about fistula   prevention and encourages women to seek medical care during pregnancy and childbirth.

Abigail has since returned to school to complete her secondary education and pursue her aspiration of becoming a midwife.

UNFPA supports institutionalization of fistula management and training of provincial fistula teams through fistula repair camps. In 2024, 62 fistula survivors had their dignity and pride restored after successful fistula surgeries. Since 2005, UNFPA collaborating with the Ministry of Health has      conducted over 4200 successful repairs in Luapula and Northwestern Provinces.