The “pelvic floor” is the group of muscles that form a sling or hammock across the floor of the pelvis. Together with surrounding tissues, these muscles hold the pelvic organs in place so they can function correctly. The pelvic organs include the bladder, urethra, intestines, and rectum. A woman’s pelvic organs also include the uterus, cervix, and vagina. When the muscles or connective tissues of the pelvic area weaken or become damaged, a pelvic floor problem develops.
Obstetric fistula is also one of the pelvic floor disorders that the women experiences during child birth. Its effect on the mother is not only a physical trauma but affects the dignity and status of women's lives in the community as well. The main reason for obstetric fistula is prolonged obstructed labor which is the result of absence of accessible comprehensive emergency medical care for the women to have safe delivery.
Urinary incontinence or lack of bladder control is one of pelvic floor disorder. Urinary symptoms can include urinating too often in the day or night, strong urgency to urinate, or urinary leakage. The leaking of urine, a problem called urinary incontinence. This leakage may occur as a result of an exertion like a cough or sneeze or other factors involving the bladder muscles.
Historically obstetric fistula was a worldwide problem. With the advent of modern obstetric care, it has literally been eradicated from the developed countries. If modern medical care is available for women with prolonged labor, obstetric fistula would have been a history like we see it now in the developed countries. For developing countries to reach to this level there are several issues that need to be addressed: infrastructure for medical services, skill birth attendants, medical supplies, education system, girls right to say in the community, childhood diseases, vaccination coverage and backward Traditional and cultural believes.
Account Name: Hope of Light Civil Society Organization
Account Number: Wegagen Bank - 0864449411301 / Comercial Bank of Ethiopia - 1000424357085
Bank Address: CMC Michael, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Currently Hope of Light provides the mentioned services in three fistula center project site in two regions Amhara and Oromia region. The sites are established in Assela, Jimma and Gondar University Hospitals which enhance the integrated service provision towards the major services quality fistula treatment and care, train health professionals on surgical skills to repair fistula and quality fistula care and awareness creation on preventing obstetric fistula in the rural communities.
Hence Hope of Light works on the provision of quality fistula treatment and care, reintegration, patient identification, prevention and outreach programs. The foundation of Hope of Light has a great contribution to the sustainability of the service to the needy unprivileged and poor women who live in a very remote rural part of Ethiopia. In line with the surgical treatment of the women, provide training on surgical skills and quality fistula care for qualified health professionals and those under different health professionals on pre-service training in various health colleges and conducted outreach programs on fistula identification.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we are not currently taking interns or volunteers