‘I Was Carrying the Weight of Other People’s Pain’ – Jemima Osunde Reflects on Medical Career

Nollywood actress Jemima Osunde has opened up about her experience working in the medical field, revealing how the emotional demands of caring for patients began to affect her mental health.

In an interview with House 21 TV, Osunde said she later realised that her time in healthcare was gradually taking a toll on her emotionally, leading to feelings of sadness and anger she did not initially understand.

“Medical work was low-key making me depressed and, more importantly, angry,” she said. “It was during therapy that I realised a lot of my anger and moments of sadness were because I was carrying the weight of other people’s suffering.”

She explained that healthcare professionals often absorb the pain and trauma of their patients without being fully aware of it. Constant exposure to illness and loss, she noted, can quietly impact mental well-being.

“You are dealing with people who are sometimes between life and death. You see suffering almost every day. You take it all in,” she said. “You become like a sponge, absorbing it subconsciously, and you don’t even realise it because it feels like just another day at work.”

Osunde also recounted a case that has remained with her over the years, that of a teenage mother and her child.

“At one point, I was treating two patients — a mother and her baby who were admitted at the clinic,” she recalled.

According to her, the situation was particularly heartbreaking because the mother was only 14 years old and already had a one-year-old child.

“It still feels surreal to describe a 14-year-old as a mother,” she said.

The young girl had developed Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) following complications from childbirth at a very young age. Her body, not fully developed for delivery, suffered significant trauma. Her baby was also living with cerebral palsy.

Osunde said therapy helped her connect her emotional struggles to the difficult realities she encountered daily in the medical field.

Understanding Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF)

Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) is a serious childbirth injury. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), obstetric fistula occurs when a hole forms between the birth canal and the bladder or rectum, usually as a result of prolonged or obstructed labour without timely medical care.

VVF specifically refers to a hole between the bladder and the vagina, leading to continuous and uncontrollable leakage of urine. Women and girls living with the condition often face infections, physical discomfort and social stigma.

The WHO states that obstetric fistula is largely preventable and is most common in areas with limited access to quality maternal healthcare. Early marriage and teenage pregnancy increase the risk, as young girls’ bodies may not be fully developed for childbirth.

Globally, between 50,000 and 100,000 new cases of obstetric fistula are recorded each year. Millions of women, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia, are believed to be living with untreated fistula, many without access to surgical repair.

Beyond its medical implications, fistula is also a social issue. Affected women are often isolated or stigmatised due to the condition. However, with proper surgical intervention, VVF can be treated and, in many cases, cured.