Fistula Appeal

What is the situation around the world regarding Obstetric Fistula?

An obstetric fistula occurs when a mother has a prolonged, obstructed labour, without access to emergency medical care, such as a C-section. Often labour lasts for many days with women suffering an incredible amount of pain. The ordeal leaves holes—known as “fistulae” —between the women’s vagina and her bladder or rectum. This causes incontinence and leads to a woman leaking urine, stool, or both, for the rest of her life. The smell is often what drives their husband’s away leaving these women in an even more vulnerable position. They are shunned by the wider community and due to a lack of understanding blamed for their condition.

• Obstructed labour accounts for up to 6% of all maternal deaths.
• There are around 2 million women who suffer from fistula.
• Only 1 in 50 women have access to fistula treatment.
• For women who get fistula in their first pregnancy, 70% end up with no living children. After a successful fistula repair surgery, a woman may still give birth, although c-sections are recommended to prevent re-opening the fistula.
• 99% of all maternal deaths occur in developing countries
• A fistula can only be repaired through surgery.
• a pregnant woman or new-borns dies somewhere in the world every 11 seconds (according to the UN 2019)

How does Physicians Across Continents help?

Physicians Across Continents is working in 5 countries across Africa and Asia providing physical and psychological rehabilitation to help women resume their lives in society