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*Beli Maya Shahi, a 35-year-old resident of Salimbada in Khandachakra Municipality-5, Kalikot, a mother of six, spent her days working in the fields, caring for her home, and looking after animals. Her life was full of struggles and shaped by hardship.
Beli Maya endured 18 years of pain caused by an untreated obstetric fistula, following a child marriage and multiple home births without medical care. Her journey is a story of transformation, one of Healing and Hope.
Growing up in a remote corner of Khandachakra Municipality, Beli Maya’s family grappled with financial difficulties that hindered her access to education. Unaware of the importance of education at the time, she missed out on formal schooling. Looking back, she now understands how not being able to read or write made life even harder.
At the tender age of fifteen, Beli Maya was married off without understanding what marriage meant. A year later, she gave birth to her first child at home with the help of a village midwife, as the hospital was too far. The delivery was long and painful, and she suffered a serious injury but she never got the medical help she needed neither she sought any medical attention.
Over the years, Beli Maya gave birth to seven children at two-year intervals, all while managing a multitude of household responsibilities, caring for her children and livestock, and sustaining her involvement in agriculture. This demanding lifestyle took a toll on her health, resulting in problems such as digestive issues, frequent urination, excessive stool passing, and unpleasant vaginal discharge.
These health issues led Beli Maya to withdraw from social gatherings, opting for isolation even within her own home, where she often had to sleep in unconventional places, such as the balcony, cow shed, or near the toilet due to her frequent need for it. Seeking medical help, her husband took her to Chitwan, but to their dismay, the doctor declared her condition incurable. For eighteen long years, Beli Maya faced these overwhelming challenges until the Health Mother Group, an initiative by INF Nepal, commenced discussions on sexual and reproductive health, child marriage, and gender-related issues within her community.
During one of these discussions, the topic of Fistula emerged, and she recognised that her symptoms aligned with this condition. Initially hesitant to share her plight, the Female Community Health Volunteer (FCHV) later discussed her issues in the meeting. Following their guidance, Beli Maya sought a diagnosis at the Fistula Center hospital, where her condition was confirmed. Despite her previous belief that no cure existed, INF Nepal provided her with essential follow-up care and counselling for further treatment.
Beli Maya underwent a successful operation at Surkhet Fistula Center, accompanied by accommodation. This marked the turning point in her life as she was finally relieved from the pain and suffering she had endured for eighteen years. Beli Maya’s journey, supported by INF Nepal, felt nothing short of a blessing, offering her a newfound hope and enabling her to partake in social gatherings confidently. It was as if she had reclaimed her life.
The discussions within the Health Mother Group on sexual and reproductive health, child marriage, and gender-related issues proved invaluable in raising awareness and addressing such concerns in their community. Beli Maya’s involvement in this group brought her happiness and immense gratitude towards INF for its support and bringing healing and hope in her life.
*Name changed for anonymity