FIMA Year Book 2010-2011 - Federation of Islamic Medical ...

FIMA SAVE DIGNITY
Gravity of the situation:
African countries are awaiting surgery for these
complex ailments resulting in severe socioeconomical
stress to the communities. These
communities are unable to cope with the
situations because of the lack of facilities,
trained doctors in this field, nursing staff,
rehabilitation staff and lack of maternity
services especially in rural areas. Female genital
mutilation is found to be nearly 100% even at
present times and this augments the disease
burden. Only in these deprived areas of Sudan,
it is estimated that 20,000 women are awaiting
surgery. Young women of 15 and 30 years,
having this health dilemma, as a result of birth
trauma mainly in rural populations, suffer for
the rest of their lives due to unattended
deliveries in the villages and due to adverse
local traditions. This injury results in persistence
leakage of urine causing severe socioeconomical
and health issues. They are
persistently wet and socially discarded. Ninety
nine percent of these women are already
divorced. Lack of resources and primary health
care in the region do not allow them to get
access to the cure of this curable disease.
Persistent political turmoil and civil war do not
allow international agencies to intervene, and
the hope of becoming dry in life has become a
dream.
In a relief meeting, this health problem was
outlined by several concerned health
professionals, and by representatives of the
Sudanese Islamic Medical Association (SIMA).
FIMA took the initiative and launched a project
with the name of FIMA Save Dignity, aiming to
mobilize international assistance to overcome
the situation. The first team arrived in Khartoum
and Darfur in October 2008. The team,
comprising of a surgeon and a leading specialist
in this field, submitted its recommendations
after studying the disease pattern, burden,
existing facilities and future plans. FIMA Save
Dignity signed two Memoranda of
Understanding (MOUs): with a local Non-
Governmental Organization (NGO) named
Twasu, and with the Sudanese Islamic Medical
Association (SIMA) for the domestic assistance
and local arrangements. SIMA, as local partner,
shouldered the responsibility for arranging
camps and provision of logistics, while Twasu,
a local women body, selected, transported
patients and provided assistance for
rehabilitation of patients after surgeries.
The First FIMA SDP Team with local authorities at
al-Fashir- Darfur Airport
Objectives of the Project:
• Surgical cure of the Vesico vaginal and
Recto vaginal fistulae
• Rehabilitation of the suffering women
• Taking these women back to their societies
and families.
• Developing preventive strategy to reduce the
backlog build-up.
• Training the local doctors, nurses and
paramedics to develop their capacity to
handle the situation on their own ( long
term)
• Conduct periodic surgical camps with the
help of philanthropists and relief bodies to
reduce the disease load and ultimately
eradication of the disease.
• Conduct training workshops for doctors and
nurses as well as social workers aiming to
FIMA YearBook 2010-2011 92