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Each year, thousands of women see their dreams of motherhood turn into a harrowing nightmare due to obstetric fistula. Obstetric fistula — a severe tear in the birth canal that leaves women leaking urine or feces — disproportionately affects marginalized and impoverished women and girls. The repercussions are grave, leading to health complications and social exclusion. But there is hope — and you can be part of it. The toll of obstetric fistula is devastating. In addition to severe health complications, including frequent infections, survivors are often shunned by their communities and abandoned by their partners, unable to work or go to school, and driven deeper into social exclusion and poverty. But there’s still hope.
A powerful story of resilience comes from Ager who is from a small rural community in Ethiopia. As a 12-year-old child, Ager was forced to marry a much older man in a family-arranged marriage. She experienced five pregnancies and every single one ended in stillbirth. When her due date arrived in her sixth pregnancy, her family took her to the hospital by ambulance. But even with emergency surgery, her baby did not survive.
In the days following her harrowing, sixth delivery, Ager started leaking urine. It was beyond her control and her dress was consistently soaked wet. She shared with us about her darkest moments, "I wished I died as my babies. I was in so much distress and shame." But Ager found solace and hope through a UNFPA-supported fistula treatment center. It was a long road to recovery, and healing required multiple surgeries, but today she speaks of renewal, dignity, and gratitude for the care that transformed her life: “I did not believe I would be cured, but thanks to God, I feel like I have been reborn. I have no words to thank the doctors, nurses, and everyone who supports this godly work. I am now eager to mix with my family as a woman with full dignity,” she said. Razia from Pakistan was also forced into marriage as a child and overcame years of suffering after developing multiple fistulas during childbirth. She gave birth alone, except for a traditional birth attendant who was ill-equipped to care for her complications. She was in labor for four days, before finally giving birth to a stillborn daughter. Shunned by her community, Razia was deprived of basic human dignity. She told us, “People would either avoid me or just make fun of me. I never felt clean.” UNFPA is the leader of the global Campaign to End Fistula and has provided more than 129,000 fistula repair surgeries to women and girls around the world. And that is all thanks to the generosity of supporters like you. But still today, tens of thousands of women and girls like Ager and Razia are facing the nightmare of obstetric fistula, a tragic and preventable reality that thousands of women endure, and one that demands our urgent compassion and action.
The prevalence of obstetric fistula is a tragic reminder of the urgent need to uphold the reproductive rights of the most vulnerable. Your match-enabled gift can restore survivors’ health in the face of this condition — and give women and girls hope, empowering them to reclaim their lives and dignity. You have the power to help bring medical supplies, training, and support for treatment and social reintegration programs to the more than 2 million women living with obstetric fistula worldwide. Thank you for helping us end obstetric fistula, once and for all. — USA for UNFPA |
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