Madagascar Mother Finds Hope After Years of Silent Suffering from Prolapse Condition
A 31-year-old mother in Madagascar has shared her story of nearly a decade of silent suffering caused by a debilitating but often unspoken women’s health condition, before finally receiving life-changing surgery through Mercy Ships.
Aimee, whose identity has been used to highlight the issue of uterovaginal prolapse (UVP), lived with chronic pain and physical discomfort following childbirth. The condition, in which pelvic organs descend into the birth canal, left her unable to carry out daily activities and eventually forced her to stop working.
She said the condition began shortly after the birth of her child, when she started experiencing persistent pain in her back and abdomen, followed by unusual swelling.
Although diagnosed, Aimee had no access to treatment for years, reflecting a wider challenge faced by women in low-resource settings where such conditions are often hidden due to stigma and lack of awareness.
“Because I had a condition that was not visible, some people didn’t believe that I was sick. From the outside, I looked healthy,” she said.
Research indicates that UVP affects between 2 and 20 per cent of women globally, with significantly higher prevalence in developing countries. However, experts warn that the true number may be higher due to underreporting linked to stigma and limited access to healthcare.
Aimee’s situation changed after she heard a radio announcement about free surgical care offered by Mercy Ships, a global charity providing medical services aboard its hospital vessel, the Africa Mercy.
“I was honestly overjoyed. I started hoping right away that I’d be healed,” she said.
Following surgery on board the ship, Aimee’s condition was successfully treated, marking the end of years of pain and restriction. She has since joined other women sharing similar experiences in the hospital ward, many of whom had endured prolonged silence around their conditions.
Volunteer gynaecological surgeon Dr Jerome Meon said conditions such as UVP significantly affect quality of life, even if they are not visibly apparent.
“Gynaecological issues are like any other medical issue. They affect people’s quality of life, and even if we can’t see it, their lives can be impacted greatly,” he said.
Now recovering, Aimee says she hopes to use her experience to encourage other women suffering in silence to seek help and understand that treatment is possible.
“I want to share my story because there are many women like me who don’t know where to go for help. I want them to know this condition can be treated,” she said.
