Between August and September 2026, HEAL Africa organized its first free obstetric fistula repair campaign in Gbadolite, the capital city of Nord-Ubangi Province, in the northwestern corner of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Conducted at Gbadolite General Referral Hospital, with support from Fistula Foundation, the campaign enabled numerous women to receive specialized care for obstetric fistula and other serious gynecological complications, including perineal tears.

In this region, where transportation difficulties, economic hardship, and a shortage of specialists make access to healthcare challenging, some beneficiaries traveled hundreds of kilometers, often on foot and over several days, to reach the medical team from HEAL Africa at Gbadolite General Referral Hospital. Their determination highlights the significant unmet needs that the campaign sought to address: bringing restorative care closer to women who, because of financial constraints and limited transportation options, had lived for years with devastating gynecological conditions.

More than 100 women freed from years of suffering

Among the women who benefited from the campaign was Myriam, who developed an obstetric fistula during her first childbirth at the age of 26. After eight unsuccessful repair attempts, she had lost all hope of recovery. To reach Gbadolite General Referral Hospital, she traveled approximately 195 kilometers, covering part of the journey on foot and the rest on bicycle, helped by people who came to her assistance.

“After eight unsuccessful attempts to repair my fistula, I had lost all hope. I was terrified at the thought of spending the rest of my life living with a mixture of fecal matter and urine odors, because I had lost control of my bodily functions when I gave birth to my first child at the age of 26,” she recalls. The campaign ultimately enabled her to be cured of the fistula.

Her story echoes that of another patient who traveled from Bangui, in the Central African Republic. Her vesico-vaginal fistula developed during childbirth in 1998, leaving her to suffer for 28 years. To receive restorative care in Gbadolite, she had to cross the border from her country into the DRC. Fortunately, she, too, was successfully treated.

Like these two women, the other beneficiaries received the restorative care they needed and were treated for their gynecological complications during the campaign.

This campaign was made possible through the vital support of Fistula Foundation, a longstanding partner of HEAL Africa in providing free treatment to women living with fistula. By bringing its medical teams to Gbadolite, HEAL Africa reduced the barriers that prevent women in this part of the DRC from accessing the specialized care they need. With appropriate treatment, women living with these complications can regain their health and dignity and look toward the future with renewed confidence.