Women with a cause
After every difficulty there is always a relief. This couldn’t be truer for a few of the women of Beer village in Burao district, Togdheer region of Somaliland. After going through psychological and physical problems associated with fistula, they have been able to rise up and hold their head high, supporting not just themselves but those in their community as well, by starting an association.
Nasteexo association, a women’s saving group that was started in 2016 for the purpose of saving, comprises of 18 members some of whom are women who have fully recovered from fistula. The groups’ purposes are to save and create awareness in the community on fistula and female genital mutilation/cut.
Nasra Ali Ahwad, the chairlady of the group is full of praise for the group. “Ever since we started the group, we have realised the importance of saving. The women who were treated also got training skills on saving,” she says.
Nasra Ali, the group's chair lady
With the support of World Vision, the women received training on business skills and later established their own businesses. Zahra Ahmed Duale from Qoyta village is a fistula survivor and a member of the Qoyta village savings group, a village savings group just like Nasteexo. She received the training offered by the organisation as well as some money to help her reintegrate into the society after her treatment. With the money, she was able to open her own shop.
Zahra at her shop. She is now confident and respected in the community
“The money I was given, I was able to construct this iron sheet shop. Now I am able to cater for myself and pay school fees for all my three children. Before, I was not able to take my children to school or do normal work. ”
“With the opportunity given, we decided how to help and support each other without necessarily waiting for help from others. This will enable us achieve our own development andwe will not ask for support,” affirms Nasra.
Through the group, they have also been able to learn the importance of togetherness. “When mothers come together, they can improve the state of the family.”
When the women had fistula, they felt degraded and the community shunned them. They also felt insecure and hid themselves, but after their treatment, they have been able to reach out to others women with fistula.
“The outreaches have enabled us reach out to other women who did not want to be seen and when we talk to them, they get encouraged and go for treatment,” says Nasra.
The women who were treated from fistula were given goats and others were given money. Those who received animals, their animals have multiplied and those who received money they were able to establish their own businesses and rebuild their lives.
“These women now have an asset and are recognized in the community. Before they were disregarded and looked down upon, but now they’ve been able to build their own confidence, ” says Nasra.
World Vision not only offered training and economic assistance, but they also gave psychological support. Through this support, the women are now able to create awareness in the community as well as visiting each other.
“I feel happy for those who have been assisted and helped. Before, the women who had fistula used to hide but today, they come out to be treated and talk about it. They can now express their problems and they also go to have their health status checked.”
When the women started the savings group,they agreed to save 3,000 Somaliland shillings (4USD) per member every month and so far they have saved 2,160,000 Somaliland shillings (288 USD)
Some of the money that the group has saved so far
“We have realised the importance of saving,” says Nasra, “the more we save, the more we get immediate benefits. We are thankful to God and then to World Vision for the support they have given us as women and mothers and to the whole community.”
Since 2006,WV Somalia, with support from WV Korea has been working with community networks, local partners, and the Borama Fistula Hospital to support fistula victims i the Ceelahelay area, Hargeisa environsa and Togdheer region of Somaliland. Factors such as early marriage, female genital mutilation, lack of adequate health care services and poverty which contributes to malnutrition and stunting in children, leading to girl’s skeleton and pelvis not to mature fully are key contributors to development of obstetric fistula.
The physical consequences of obstetric fistula lead to severe socio cultural stigmatization and marginalization. Women and girls suffering from fistula are often abandoned by their husbands and relatives as well as stigmatized and marginalized by their communities, causing them extreme economic hardship and psychological trauma. Obstetric fistula typically affects the poorest of the poor.
WV Somalia’s fistula project has been very successful in the community because it has changed the lives of beneficiaries by reducing their pain, reducing the cause of their stigmatization and ostracization, allowing them to pursue economic activities again and reintegrate with their communities. So far the fistula Programme in World Vison has supported 147 women.