Vertical portrait of older woman in Sierra Leone, West Africa, after life changing fistula surgery
In Africa, young women often go through difficult obstructed labour due to lack of basic medical care. Childbirth for them ends up usually with a stillborn baby, and with damage to internal organs such that they are left incontinent, sometimes of both urine and faeces. A connection between bladder and vagina is called a vesicovaginal fistula. They are ostracised by family, friends and husband, and there lives are effectively over. Surgery can usually be performed except in the most difficult cases, giving these women back their lives. Charity organisations are hard at work providing this medical care.
Size: 3494px × 5241px
Photo credit: © Celia Mannings / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: african, black, bright, celebrate, color, colour, costume, doctor, dress, ethnic, face, female, friend, friendship, gift, girl, grin, hospital, injury, joy, lady, leonean, local, medicine, outfit, people, radiant, skin, symbol, tradition, trauma, travel, treat, treatment, vaginal, vesico, women, young
