Village Chief and local midwife undergoes fistula repair

Sally Jusu (centre)aged 50 was forced to get into a Mercy Ships vehicle and come to Freetown for surgery by her children, the only ones aware of her problem. Two weeks later she phoned them to say “You can tell everyone I am well now, I not ashamed anymore.”

For 25 years gracious, dignified Sally had managed to conceal her fistula problem and remain village chief. She used to fast from water on official meeting days, and would keep meetings short, so she wouldn’t have to leave and change herself!

After recovering from her surgery she agreed to speak about her experience on 17th November at a conference on maternal health for chiefs from all over Sierra Leone. She met the wife of the president!