Florence
Uganda
Florence, 37, was pregnant with her eighth child in the Soroti district of Uganda. She would wake up with the sun and walk 8 miles round trip to receive antenatal services at Orungo Health Centre III.
Florence had tried to convince her husband to take her on the family bike, but he never wanted anything to do with it. The midwives had even threatened not to assist her unless her husband accompanied her.
In July 2021, Florence’s labor pains began while she was in the garden harvesting groundnuts. She had set aside money for for hospital costs, but now spent half on emergency transport because she knew this pregnancy was not like the others.
I spent the whole morning, afternoon and night groaning in labour pain… Nurses kept telling me to push and persuading that I would deliver. I realised something was not right.
The next day Florence was referred to a different health center, but without money for the ambulance, her husband had to rush back home and sell the family cow to cover the cost. When he made it back, the nurses called the ambulance, and they began their four-hour drive to the next facility but Florence knew something wasn’t right.
Upon arrival, Florence was immediately brought into the theatre for a C-section. Her baby was stillborn. Three days after the surgery she began leaking urine. Florence had developed a fistula and was referred to our local partners at Terrewode.
Florence was severely anemic and malnourished when she arrived at Terrewode Women’s Community Hospital (TWCH) and underwent nutritional support for three weeks before she could receive surgery.
Her fistula surgery was a success, and Florence woke up dry! She received basic literacy and reproductive health classes to help her settle back home.
Once fully recovered, Florence will complete small business training with Terrewode to achieve her dream of selling silver fish.
