Yet the condition is almost entirely preventable. Its persistence is a sign of global inequality and an indication that health systems are failing to protect the health and human rights of the poorest and most vulnerable women and girls. Those without access to modern maternal health services are more likely to suffer from obstetric fistula, for example. And girls who are subjected to child marriage and adolescent pregnancy are also more vulnerable, since the condition is more likely to afflict those who become pregnant while still physically immature.
The United Nations has observed the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula since 2013. The day, 23 May, is meant to raise awareness of this issue and mobilize support around the globe. The theme of this year's International Day is "Leaving no one behind: Let us commit to ending fisula now!"
A screening of the film "The Ambassador," about empowering women living with fistula in Ethiopia, will be held at United Nations Headquarters on 23 May from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event, held by UNFPA, the Campaign to End Fistula and Healing Hands of Joy, will include a question-and-answer session featuring the award-winning filmmakers and UNFPA technical experts. Diplomatic missions based in New York are invited to attend.
According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) as many as 3,000 Tanzanian women develop obstetric fistula each year, a condition that leaves them incontinent, leaking urine or faeces uncontrollably. As a result, they are often excluded from their families and communities. Obstetric fistula is a childbirth injury caused by prolonged, obstructed labour. It occurs when pressure from the baby’s head compresses the mother’s soft tissue in the birth canal, which obstructs blood flow. Without blood, the tissues die and a hole forms between the bladder and the vagina or the rectum and the vagina.
Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT) is a Tanzanian health care organisation which works to prevent disability, provide affordable medical and rehabilitative services, and aid empowerment of people with disabilities and their families. It also seeks to prevent disability through early identification by strengthening the maternal and newborn health system throughout Dar es Salaam.
To help remove barriers to treatment, CCBRT covers the cost of all obstetric fistula patients’ treatment, accommodation, and meals throughout their course of care. CCBRT also supports six partner hospitals in Tanzania to provide treatment, making fistula care more accessible for all Tanzanian women. CCBRT and its partner facilities performed more than 1,012 fistula surgeries.
In the same vein, the government has said plans are underway to ensure specialised clinical services aimed at curbing the increasing number of deaths caused by the pregnancy-related obstetric fistula disease are available right across the country.
The comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care services will be installed in all public health centres. The services will target pregnant women experiencing fatal complications, including severe bleeding, infection, prolonged or obstructed labour, and eclampsia, as well as newborns with asphyxia.
Although official figures show that roughly 3,000 women suffer from obstetric fistula in the country each year, the number is much lower than the real situation on the ground where most cases go unreported for fear of stigmatisation for patients.
Only 113 of the country’s 484 public health centres are providing the treatment services in a comprehensive manner so far.The target is to ensure the remaining centres also do the same, he said.
The government first launched its National Fistula Programme in 2005.
The national health policy of 2007 is aimed at improving the health status of all people in the country, including the elderly and expectant mothers. Available data shows that hundreds of thousands of women die each year worldwide due to fistula.
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