International Day to End Obstetric Fistula
23 May is the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula. Join us and help more women living with obstetric fistula to recover and rebuild their lives.
Obstetric fistula is a devastating childbirth injury, and a neglected public health and human rights issue. Two million women in low-resource settings have an obstetric fistula, and 100,000 more develop one every year. Leaking urine and/or faeces and, as a result, living in desperate circumstances, only 1 in 50 ever receives treatment.
To close the global treatment gap and end this suffering, FIGO's Fistula Surgery Training Initiative aims to train enough surgeons – FIGO Fellows – from fistula-affected communities to eradicate the condition.
Obstetric fistula is currently not a priority discussion point or high on international agendas. We believe it is high time this violation is put front and centre of global conversations, to ensure that no woman is left behind, most of all the most marginalised and neglected.
Join us to #EndFistula with the range of awareness-raising resources at the links below, including moving stories from FIGO Fellows and their patients, social media graphics, and key advocacy messages.