12,000 Fistula Repairs Achieved

Obstetric fistula is a devastating childbirth injury that results from prolonged, obstructed labour. Since 2012, the FIGO Fistula Surgery Training Initiative has been building the capacities of local trainee fistula surgeons – ‘FIGO Fellows’ – and multidisciplinary teams to provide treatment to women suffering from obstetric fistula in some of the world’s most underserved communities.

We are thrilled to announce that the FIGO Fistula Surgery Training Initiative has this week reached the amazing milestone of 12,000 fistula repairs done to date by Fellows on the programme! This is an incredible achievement, particularly when we consider that more than 1,000 of these surgeries have been provided this year, despite the huge difficulties and major service disruptions brought about by the global pandemic.

On behalf of the fistula project team, our Expert Advisory Group, Trainers and all at FIGO, we would like to sincerely thank our more than 65 dedicated FIGO Fellows who, no matter the challenges, are committed to providing life changing care around the world for women with obstetric fistula.

Additional notes on obstetric fistula

Obstetric fistula is a devastating childbirth injury, and a neglected public health and human rights issue. Although it is fully preventable, two million women suffer with the condition in Africa and certain parts of Asia, and an additional 100,000 develop a fistula each year. Only 1 in 50 will ever receive treatment.

The FIGO Fistula Surgery Training Initiative is a globally recognised, state-of-the-art training programme. Using FIGO’s Global Competency-Based Fistula Surgery Training Manual, the first standardised fistula surgery curriculum, we deliver training and education to more than 65 trainee fistula surgeons – ‘FIGO Fellows’ – and multidisciplinary teams from some of the world’s most underserved regions.

The programme also supplies much-needed fistula equipment, including the FIGO Specification Fistula Instrument Set and surgical head torches.

Working in close collaboration with a wide range of partners, FIGO Fellows have now provided more than 12,000 fistula repair surgeries. Together, we are determined to close the global treatment gap.

Visit our project page to find out more about the initiative or to contact the programme team.