Asha has lived with fistula for 25 years. She arrived at her local hospital in Tanzania waiting to deliver her sixth child. She was rushed to the operating room because she had experienced prolonged labor. Tragically, her baby died, and she was left with obstetric fistula. Before this, Asha had two miscarriages, so she was devastated to lose another child. She stayed in the hospital for three months waiting to get better, but neither her nor her doctors knew why she was leaking urine. Asha was discharged, and went back home with urine flowing down her legs with no hope of treatment.

That was in 1994. Since then she has experienced stigma, discrimination, and has been abandoned by her husband. She has had to raise her six children by herself—without the help of a husband, or her community. Since 1994, she has returned to her local hospital for treatment, but nothing has worked. This year Asha’s daughter heard one of CCBRT’s radio announcements. Asha called CCBRT and was connected to one of our 300 fistula ambassadors in Iringa who helped Asha travel to CCBRT. In October, she arrived at CCBRT with her transportation cost and treatment fully covered. She was welcomed by CCBRT staff and other women recovering from fistula. “I had lost hope, and couldn’t leave my house because of the shame I felt. Now, I am no longer leaking urine, and I thank God every day for the free treatment I received at CCBRT,” Asha told us.