The Girl who got fistula after rape

The Girl who got fistula after rape

By ALBERT SHARRA


People were happy when government encouraged stiff punishments to rapist in 2002 when the practice became rampant. Alot of people have been arrested for rape since that time. Hospitals worked together with the police to assist the victims.

But Lucy (not real name) of traditional Authority Etisuseni in Mzimba who is now based in Mchesi, Lilongwe was not so luck as to get hospital and police support.

The girl now 11 years old has the sad story to tell. At the age of three, Lucy was raped by unknown man who picked her from outside her parent’s house in Mchesi at around 6pm.
Speaking while tears flowing down her cheeks, Lucy says she does not remember the man who raped her.

Her mother (name with held) who had seen little Lucy playing outside the house earlier said she was surprised to see that the child was not there. it was only when she asked other children that she was told that Lucy had been picked by an unknown man.

“We tried to look everywhere in the location but we couldn’t find her. She was later found lying unconscious along Lilongwe River the following day.
“We found her with a swollen face and with blood all over her waist and legs, we took her to the hospital after recognizing that she had been raped,” the divorced mother said.

The report to the police did not help because the suspect is not known.

Lucy was admitted to Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) in Lilongwe in January 2004 and she spent two months.

A medical report from KCH dated 09/01/2004 reads.

“She has a rectovaginal fistula, keep her in paediatric ward”

It adds that the girl is a rape victim and had a penetrating injury to the rectum and vaginal canals and needs a surgical operation.

Sadly, Lucy has not yet had the surgical operation that was recommended in the medical report.

The doctor told her mother to go back for operation when the girl is an adolescent.


But challenged by lack of finances, Lucy’s mother, who is not employed and stays in her relatives house, failed to seek medical care from private hospitals.

For six years now, the girl has had problems in toilet, with both faeces and urine coming through the same passage.

Her mother says the incident has affected Lucy’s performance at school as well as her general thinking capacity.

Lucy’s std3 class teacher at Lilongwe girls primary Lulu Chikupeta says the girl struggles a lot in class.

“She is psychologically affected because even here at school, she comes randomly and do not participate effectively,” she says.

Lucy complains that the incident left her with a problem on her navel which is very painful and makes her fail to go to school most of the time.
“I feel pain in my stomach around navel everyday especially in the morning which makes it difficult for me to go to school,” she said.

Lucy’s mother says her daughter’s condition frightens her.

“Doctors say the operation will be possible when she becomes adolescent but this frightens me because my daughter is struggling with her life,” complained the mother adding: “I am worried about her reproductive system as well because she falls ill frequently,”

She called on well wishers to help her meet private hospital bills.

“I don’t have a relative who can help pay for private hospital bills. My daughter’s condition is getting worse as she grows up,” she said.


A source from KCH female surgical ward who pleaded for anonymity said the girl operation would be successful if it were done before she reaches adolescence.

The source also said the operation will be successful if it is done before the girl reaches adolescent stage.

“We have some equipment for the operation but the girl will still have problems in giving birth and in the toilet,” said the source.

Director of children voices (CV) a Human rights consultant organization based in Kawale Lilongwe Wilfred Gumbata says it is sad that the girl is getting confusing information from medical practioners.
He called on well wishers to assist Lucy.
END.

Pictures of the girl, mother and the house they live in can be released on conditions.

Note: After the story was published in the Nation Newspaper on July 29,2010,various well wishers came forward to assist the girl but finally was Mr Price who did the job.Mr Price sent the girl to Mwaiwathu private hospital where she has been undergoing surgical operations and the final operation is expected to be done October end.Currently (15 October 2010) the girl is no more fistula.What a good news.Mr Price did not only touch on medical support but also material support that they have been donating clothes and blankents to the widow (mother of the girl) who has three children but takes care of an orphan.
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