Closing the obstetric fistula treatment gap
Date: Thursday 8 May 2025
Time: 13:00-14:30 UTC
Description:
Obstetric fistula is a devastating childbirth injury caused by prolonged, obstructed labour without timely access to high-quality medical care. The resulting hole between the birth canal and bladder and/or rectum leads to serious long-term problems with leaking urine, faeces or both. If not surgically repaired, the injury can leave affected women and girls incontinent for the rest of their lives, resulting in chronic medical problems, depression, social isolation and deepening poverty.
Most obstetric fistulas can be repaired via surgery but unfortunately, there are very few trained fistula surgeons. With the significant human suffering that comes with this condition, it is alarming that approximately only one in 50 affected women have access to treatment. Obstetric fistula is a sign of global inequality - the world's health and social systems are failing the poorest and most disadvantaged women and girls.
Obstetric fistula primarily affects individuals in low-resource countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and certain parts of Asia. FIGO's next regional webinar will bring together leading fistula surgeons and advocates to dive deeper into this issue in the African context. Join us, as speakers discuss epidemiology, clinical aspects and capacity building to address the global shortage of fistula specialists.
Addressing obstetric fistula is an integral part of FIGO's programme work, with the Fistula Surgery Training Initiative. This webinar will spotlight this ambitious multi-year programme, which trains local fistula surgeons and multidisciplinary teams to provide life-transforming care to women affected by this debilitating condition.
This webinar is led by the FIGO Trustee for Africa, Prof Blami Dao, in collaboration with the African Federation of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (AFOG), Société Africaine de Gynécologie Obstétrique (SAGO), FIGO Committee on Obstetric Fistula, Focus Fistula, Fistula Foundation and the FIGO Fistula Surgery Training Initiative.
Language: English with live interpretation in French, Spanish and Portuguese.
Moderator:
Prof Blami Dao, FIGO Trustee for Africa & Eastern Mediterranean, Burkina Faso
Speakers:
Epidemiology of obstetric fistula in Africa
Dr Weston Khisa, African Federation of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (AFOG), Kenya
Incontinence after fistula surgery
Dr Igor Vaz, Focus Fistula, Mozambique
Training OBGYN residents in obstetric fistula care
Prof Pierre Marie Tebeu, Société Africaine de Gynécologie-Obstétrique (SAGO), Cameroon
Power of partnership: Building networks to expand fistula care
Ms Lindsey Pollaczek, Fistula Foundation, United States
FIGO Fistula Surgery Training Initiative - A trainer perspective
Dr Peter Majinge, FIGO Committee on Obstetric Fistula, Tanzania