Bringing a baby into the world is no easy feat, especially for expectant mothers living in remote areas of the world. These women face health issues that are linked with common social problems such as poverty, malnutrition, poor health services, and gender discrimination. One such condition is obstetric fistula, an injury of childbearing that is usually caused by several days of obstructed labor without proper medical intervention, resulting in chronic incontinence.

Easing the Pain
Fistula leaves women with few opportunities to earn a living, and many have to rely on others to survive. Some go into deep physical and emotional decline and may be unable to care for the child for whom they sacrificed so much. Many of these women are shunned by their husbands and communities, driving them into deep depression.

In Eritrea, the Global Campaign to End Fistula, led by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), is trying to make this serious and painful disorder as rare in the developing world as it is in more industrialized countries. We are supporting UNFPA’s efforts to upgrade existing health care facilities to accommodate more women at risk of fistulas. The support includes medical equipment, building repairs, and fistula educational materials. The goal is to increase the cesarian rate and the number of women receiving fistula surgical repairs.

Increasing Education and Access to Care
The best way to prevent a fistula is to make sure that pregnant women have access to quality health care services. At Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, the only health care facility in Ethiopia dedicated to victims of fistula, we support outreach efforts to educate women in remote areas about the importance of quality prenatal and obstetrics care. Support has included a new ambulance and the hiring of a midwife for community outreach. Additionally, with our support, the hospital treats more than 1,000 women each year.