Niyesi Nakaona became a mother when she was only 10 years old in 2010.

She was married off at a young age by her grandmother, whom she says was too old to take care of her before she died.

The birthday of her child was through cesarean section and says she was lucky to have survived.

Her life completely changed when a fistula developed as a result of childbirth.

For those who may not know, in the case of Niyesi, she has been living with an obstetric fistula, one of the most serious and tragic childbirth injuries that creates a hole between the birth canal and bladder and/or rectum, according to health experts.

It is caused by prolonged, obstructed labour without access to timely, high-quality medical treatment.

She tells Chete FM’s Christabel Chulu that her condition makes it difficult to be around people as she unknowingly wets herself.

Sometimes she has to use any cloth she finds in her way just to stay dry.

“I can change up 20 times in a day because I wet without even knowing and that’s very embarrassing,” says Niyesi.

This is, however, not to say that she has not received medical attention before.

Past attempts have just not been successful.

The 22-year-old is using her story to speak out against child marriages and teenage pregnancies which come with complications like hers.

Living with fistula in her village is a nightmare, as she is forced to isolate due to discrimination.

“The support of her husband is what has kept me going because many have been advising him to divorce me, but he has not given in despite the fact that I’m not like other women.”

Niyesi is traveling to Serenje district in Central province after advice from the hospital and hopes this could be the time she gets better.

Source: Chete FM