Australian Surgeons Join the Effort to Treat Obstetric Fistula in Angola!
From half a world away, two Australian surgeons travelled to Angola in February 2026, to bring hope to women requiring fistula repair surgeries. Dr Judith Goh and Dr Hannah Krause were warmly welcomed to Luanda and then to Lubango by the Votoka team and our partners at the CEML missionary hospital. They were joined by visiting specialist Dr Rebecca Zacharia from Switzerland, who was honoured to have a chance to receive further training in obstetric fistula repair surgery from world-leading surgeons, as well as nursing specialist Ishbel Campbell who took the opportunity to strengthen the CEML nursing teams post-operative nursing care.
Both experienced surgeons, Dr Goh and Dr Krause selflessly dedicate time and personal expenses every year to travel to different countries not only to perform repair surgeries, but to train local surgeons. We were blessed to receive them in Angola and to help open the doors to further collaboration. They were able to visit Vangulula House (now named Kudielela House) in Luanda on their last day in Angola, and as a result of this visit they will return in November 2026 to perform surgeries and support surgeon training there.
For the campaign in Lubango, Votoka sent 34 patients, of which 23 were able to receive repair operations and 19 of these were successful. Sadly some women can never be cured, despite the best surgical care. This is why prevention is so important as part of a holistic plan to end obstetric fistula. Part of Votoka's mission is to bring together the different actors who can contribute to preventing and treating obstetric fistula. We want to learn from others, and combine our strengths where possible. This visit from Dr Goh and Dr Krause, hopefully the first of many, was one more step toward fulfilling this mission!
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