Committee on Obstetric Fistula
With around 2 million women living with obstetric fistula globally, the Committee on Obstetric Fistula is committed to reducing the suffering caused by this devastating, neglected condition and other childbirth-related injuries.
The committee achieves this through the promotion of preventative methods, training and continued support for service providers to increase the availability and accessibility of high-quality treatment so that more women receive timely and life-changing surgical repairs and holistic care.
The committee supports FIGO’s Fistula Surgery Training Initiative, which focuses on building the capacity of trainee fistula surgeons – ‘FIGO Fellows’ – and multidisciplinary teams in fistula-affected countries.
Committee Objectives
- Providing ad-hoc support to FIGO’s Fistula Surgery Training Initiative
- Technically advising qualified fistula surgeons to maintain and increase their clinical services and run fistula treatment initiatives
- Raising awareness about obstetric fistula and promoting effective prevention methods and holistic obstetric fistula care through advocacy and partnerships
- Promoting evidence-based clinical practice in the treatment of obstetric fistula by initiating and facilitating clinical and social research
- Producing FIGO Fistula Guidelines and educational resources in partnership with the Fistula Surgery Training Initiative’s Expert Advisory Group and Project Team
Committee Members
Chair
Dr Rachel Pope, USA
Members
Dr Andrew Browning, Australia – Past Chair
Dr Jeanne Conry, USA – Ex Officio
Dr Fekade Ayenachew, Ethiopia
Dr Shershah Syed, Pakistan
Dr Hillary Mabeya, Kenya
Dr Peter Majinge, Tanzania
Dr Ferry Boekhorst, Netherlands – WATOG
Associate Members
Dr Charles Rochat, Switzerland
Dr Itengre Ouedraogo, Burkina Faso
Ms Gillian Slinger, UK
