Feature Stories
Act of Kindness
Banke, 29 April, 2008
By Anna Adhikari
Her figure was so tiny, one could lift her easily. Lost in the green surgical cloths Ms. Sukanya Choudhary was sitting on the operation table ready to get her spinal anaesthetics. She was as composed as only a Nepalese person can be used to not displaying the likes and dislikes on her face. But one look in her eyes and one could see the anxiety. Surgery is not something that makes you dance.
UNFPA Nepal supports numerous projects, from core funds and thanks to donors generosity, saving and improving the lives of hundreds of women in Nepal who suffer uterine prolapse- the fallen womb, as it is locally called. The condition may develop slowly or abruptly; every case is different and as diverse is the fortune of those who suffer. Having a sex life is impossible at a certain stage of uterine prolapse as is child bearing; pain becomes excruciating and accompanying infections lead to the rotting of the uterus in some cases. The ailment can start at a tender age if a girl has to deliver a baby when her body is not yet ready or moreover she is expected to work immediately after labour. The cases of young women are the most drastic as often they are banished from their in-laws home and not always can they go back to maternal home due to harmful traditional beliefs.
Our patient, Ms. Choudhary was operated thanks to the generosity of one individual, who donated personal money for the purpose of helping another fellow human being. She was in a sense lucky compared to other women as she had safely given birth to five sons. Although the uterine prolapse developed abruptly and her uterus fell out completely, all her children were already married and she was respected by the community as a traditional midwife, not dependent on her tiller husband. In fact, her husband came with her to the hospital to stay there and assist his wife. He had been puzzled when the message from the hospital came as he had no idea his wife was suffering. When we talked to her later we heard the whole story.
Five years ago at the age of 45 Ms. Choudhary went to collect firewood. As she was carrying her load a dog appeared on the path and bit her. She lost her balance and slipped. In reality, this rapid movement while carrying the heavy load caused the prolapse, but in her narration it was the dog bite that led to the problem. She didn’t do anything about it until the pain became too severe, about two years ago. At that time she went to the closest zonal hospital but was given painkillers and a pessary ring only, as there was no facility for surgeries. The pessary ring was of no use, she told us and it gave her even more pain. However soon after when she took some of her grandchildren for polio vaccination admission she heard from a Female Community Health Volunteer that a reproductive health mobile camp was to be set up in the district within one year. So Ms. Choudhary set her hopes on this new development as expenses of patients referred to hospitals by mobile clinics are covered.
The call from the hospital came as a surprise to her, three days after her daughter-in-law delivered a child. During our long conversation in a hospital we have explained to Ms. Choudhary the real cause of the problem. We did it especially in the context of her daughters-in-law, but also knowing that she interacts with other mothers-in law in villages while attending to births. Without prevention, which has to do with changes in social practices, there is little chance to reduce the number of cases of uterine prolapse in Nepal.
Shall you wish to donate, please contact registry-np@unfpa.org
The cost of giving entirely new life to one woman through Uterine Prolapse surgery (including: transport, operation, hospital fee, food, medication and follow-up) is USD 350
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