By Sr.Sarah Muhindo

Kasese, August 29, 2026 — It was a moment of joy and thanksgiving at the Bishop’s House in the Catholic Diocese of Kasese as women who benefited from a fistula medical camp gathered to celebrate their successful treatment and share testimonies of how the intervention has transformed their lives.

The medical camp was facilitated by the Hilton Foundation under the Catholic Religious Sisters Health Care Initiative Uganda, an initiative through which religious sisters help vulnerable women access essential healthcare services.

The thanksgiving gathering brought together fistula survivors, Catholic religious sisters, health workers and diocesan leaders. The women offered prayers of thanksgiving during Mass and shared personal experiences of the challenges they faced before receiving treatment.

During the celebration, the Bishop of Kasese Diocese, Bishop Francis Aquirinus Kibira, commended the Catholic religious sisters for their dedication to ensuring that healthcare services reach women who need them most.

Bishop Kibira appreciated the sisters for their commitment to identifying women suffering from fistula, mobilising them for treatment and following up to ensure that they successfully accessed medical care.

He said the initiative has brought hope to mothers who had suffered physically, emotionally and socially as a result of fistula, and encouraged the sisters to continue with the programme so that more women can benefit.

Some of the women who received treatment gave emotional testimonies, expressing gratitude to the sisters for the support they received throughout the process.

The beneficiaries said the sisters regularly contacted them and encouraged them to travel to Mount St. Mary’s Hospital, where they received the necessary medical attention. They said the continuous follow-up and encouragement gave them the confidence to seek treatment and regain their health and dignity.

The women also thanked the sisters for not only connecting them to medical services but also providing emotional support and reassurance during a difficult period in their lives.

The beneficiaries described the fistula treatment as a turning point, saying they can now return to their families and communities with renewed hope and confidence.

Bishop Kibira urged the Catholic Religious Sisters Health Care Initiative Uganda to sustain and expand the programme, saying there are still many women who require support to access fistula treatment.

He called on all stakeholders to continue working together to ensure that women suffering from fistula are identified early, referred for treatment and supported throughout their recovery.

The thanksgiving gathering ended with prayers and celebrations, with the beneficiaries expressing appreciation for the opportunity to regain their health and live more fulfilling lives.