He mends lives of ostrocised women

He can talk animatedly about his job even in his sleep. So enthusiastic is he about the job that one would be forgiven for thinking he can talk about it in the middle of an operation he is doing on a patient. But ask him to talk about himself and he will begin to put ellipses, commas and finally a fullstop to an interview.This is Dr Tekle G. Egiziabher, an obstetrician and gynecologist at the Rwanda Military Hospital, Kanombe. He is a man whose passion is defined with fistula. A man who lives his life helping women with the nightmarish disease smile again.To beat him to the game, I decided to just go camp at his office without announcing my visit, for I had really bothered him with endless phone calls asking for an interview.So I walk to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, where I find a queue of women waiting to see him.Just an exchange of courtesies and Dr Egiziabher switches to his love and life: fistula. He is educating me about the disease, how it’s a public health concern for women. Fistula is a disease caused by childbirth injury and obstructed prolonged labour.Being familiar with most of the medics at the military hospital, he strikes me as one of the oldest, age-wise, yet most energetic doctors and passionate about his job.Most medics shun fistula repairs because the surgery is not easy and also because of the nature of the disease.Obstetric fistula is a severe medical condition in which a hole develops either in the rectum and vagina or between the bladder and the private parts after prolonged labour or poorly attended delivery, causing uncontrolled passing out of urine or faeces.Fistula patients always have an unpleasant odour caused by the urine and faecal leakage so it takes a committed and strong-hearted medic to handle such cases and Dr Egiziabher has proven to be one of those brave hearts.He came to Rwanda in 2007 and he has done 250 fistula repairs and more than 100 other gynecological operations.Before coming to Rwanda, the Eritrean doctor worked at Kenyatta National Hospital for 10 years where he also did his post-graduate studies.It was during his time at the Kenya-based hospital that the tears and sufferings of women touched his heart.“I was so touched by the lives of the women who suffered pain and stigma because they were suffering from obstetric fistula. I was just a gynecologist then and wanted to learn how I could help them overcome that pain and that is when I made a decision to learn how to do fistula repairs,” he said.Dr Egiziabher then sought training from Dr Tom Raassen, a Dutch fistula surgeon he worked closely with for three years at Kenyatta Hospital. He was then sent to Nigeria in 2003 for further training in fistula repairs by Dr Kees Waldijk, a fistula repair specialist.He then started his fistula repairs at the Kenyatta International Hospital after which he went to Somalia where he worked until 2006.In 2007, he moved to his current base, Rwanda Military Hospital.When he started fistula repairs in Rwanda, there was only one bed for fistula victims yet many patients, but now the beds are seven and likely to increase.He said his mission and vision is to help eradicate and minimise fistula cases in the country while advocating for prevention, which he says is possible with improved maternal health.“I have seen the grief of women suffering from fistula and the joy that comes with the healing. My only reward and happiness is when I see women healed from this disease and no longer suffering the pain and stigma. I have met so many who have been abandoned by their husbands and community and I derive my pleasure from seeing them healed and happy again,” he said.He says at least 80 per cent of women suffering from fistula are abandoned by their husbands while an estimate of two thirds lose their babies.Today, Dr Egiziabher says as long as he is alive, healthy and strong, he will continue helping women suffering from obstetric fistula and also training more doctors to gain skills in performing the corrective surgery.He attributes his expertise to his mentors, Doctors Raassen and Waldijk, who contributed a great deal in building his passion and proficiency.