Thirty-five years ago, Nyantiona gave birth to her first child in the villages of western South Sudan. Unfortunately, after enduring a two-day labour, she delivered a stillborn child and suffered a fistula. Her husband managed to gather whatever money he could and took her to a hospital for treatment, however, the doctor there lacked the expertise to perform a fistula operation and worsened her condition. Exhausting all their financial resources, as well as those of their family and friends, her situation deteriorated further.
Subsequently, her husband abandoned her, leaving her to live alone and burdened with shame. In order to support herself, she resorted to making and selling tea in the local market.
Fortunately, Nyantiona’s life took a positive turn when Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) discovered her and brought her to Juba for a fistula camp. Despite the complexity of her injuries, exacerbated by the previous unsuccessful operation, the surgical procedure in Juba was successful. We are delighted to report that she has made a complete recovery and now enjoys a life free from the physical and emotional pain she once endured.
