Land Based Programmes

Aberdeen West African Fistula Centre, Sierra Leone

The Aberdeen West African Fistula Centre (AWAFC) is dedicated to the needs of women and children, and provides surgery to address obstetric fistula and other childbirth-related injuries. A clinic for children 12 and under offers basic medical care, immunizations and community health education.

History
Operations to repair obstetric fistula and return incontinent women to health were performed aboard a Mercy Ship in Sierra Leone. Because of the scope of the problem, Mercy Ships felt challenged to provide a lasting solution through a permanent, land-based operation in Africa. In 2005, Mercy Ships opened the AWAFC dedicated to fistula repair and providing basic medical for children. The fistula centre is a partnership between the local Aberdeen community, the Addax & Oryx Foundation of Switzerland and its Sierra Leonean partner, National Petroleum. Mercy Ships is a non managing partner and remains involved and supportive to the effort in Sierra Leone.

Facilities & Programmes

Obstetric Fistula
Obstetric fistula is a childbirth-related injury also known as vesico-vaginal fistula (VVF). A VVF is almost always caused by obstructed labour, and leaves women with urinary incontinence. Fistula sufferers are often abandoned by family and marginalized by their communities. There are thousands of new fistula cases each year in West Africa, due to poor access to obstetric care. Child mortality in Sierra Leone is also among the highest in the world.

Fistula Centre Programmes
The Aberdeen West African Fistula Centre delivers services in two core areas, providing surgical repairs of obstetric fistulas and operating an outpatient clinic for children 12 and under. Opened in 2005, the fistula centre has performed over 1558 surgeries and over 28,900 paediatric consultations over a 12-month period.

Fistula Repair Operations
The fistula centre includes an operating room capable of supporting two simultaneous operations, a 44-bed ward and clinical laboratory and pharmacy facilities. Surgeons carry out 12-15 operations per week, with a capacity for 500 to 600 fistula patients per year.

Hostel of Hope
Opened in May 2006, the hostel extension to the main clinic was funded and constructed by teams from Rotary International of Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI) together with local contractors, to provide accommodation for up to 25 women prior to and following their operations. On departure, the healed patients are given new outfits and headdresses as symbols of their restored lives.

Outpatient Clinic for Children
Sick and malnourished children are seen by the clinic’s physician for diagnosis and treatment. The physician also prescribes medication and refers children for hospital treatment or to a feeding centre. For many children, early detection of illness is life-saving. The clinic also provided over 500 immunizations for children last year.