OBSTERIC FISTULA, A PREVENTABLE TRAGEDY

Obstetric Fistula is a preventable and treatable tragedy which disables millions of women and girls in developing countries, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Often, it changes the whole life of a person, but can be combatted with surgical treatment which costs around 600 dollars per surgery, and can be prevented with timely access to proper emergency obstetric care.


REGIONAL FISTULA DIALOGUE

Despite the continued efforts to prevent and treat fistula over the last 20 years, there still exists common challenges experienced in the West African region to eradicate Fistula by 2030.

This event aims to strengthen south-south cooperation for the eradication of obstetric fistula by bringing together the policy and decision makers, doctors, midwives, Fistula specialists, researchers, and civil society from the West African region, and around the world under the theme “Unite to end Fistula. Act to end Fistula.”


Join in our dialogue.



"A new future, for every woman."


Organizing Partners

United Nations Population Fund

Ministry of Health, Cote d'Ivoire

Korea International Cooperation Agency

Session 1

Community-based Prevention and Management of Obstetric Fistula

Communities can be strong. How can we prevent and manage Obstetric Fistula, and support reintegration better, harnessing the power of community? Join to share your voices. Hear the insights and experiences from the superstars in the topic.


Session 2

Investment Cases and Partnership

“Eliminating obstetric fistula in West and Central Africa: What approach for a sustainable financing?”

Why invest in Fistula eradication? You may be surprised to see the impact of it. Participate in the discussion, and help us identify key actions toward a sustainable obstetric fistula program financing.


Session 3

Research to policy: Health System, Data, and Human Rights

Bringing together the world-leading researchers and public officials to support evidence-based policy, the session focuses on the health system, and the new global and national fistula prevalence estimates, among others.


Please note that we have limited space for some of our sessions.

The regional Fistula Dialogue 2021 aims to contribute to the eradication of obstetric fistula by 2030 through strengthening south-south cooperation approach.

  1. Fistula Dialogue 2021 focuses on finding solutions to the common challenges that hinders ending fistula by 2030, especially with focus on prevention of Obstetric Fistula, acceleration of action, and establishment of South South Technical Cooperation (SSTC) mechanism. It will therefore be an instrument for achieving the goal of ending obstetric fistula by 2030; achieving SDGs 1, 3, 5, 10, 16, and 17; and provide guidelines for the implementation of innovative approaches.

  2. While the importance of fistula care has been repeatedly reiterated, there still remains the more complex question on how to eradicate Obstetric Fistula in the region. Despite the different national approaches in the past, the common questions that need to be addressed include how to improve access to quality prenatal care and emergency obstetric care, routinize clinical management of fistula within the health system, manage knowledge and human resources, empower women and girls’ rights and maternal health decision making, and mobilize community actions.

  3. Therefore, focusing on finding solutions to the common challenges among participating nations in eradicating of Fistula by 2030, the virtual event aims to:

  1. Create consensus around the critical steps to be taken to eradicate OF by 2030

  2. Renew political commitment to develop an enlarged and inclusive partnership to increase domestic and international public/private financing for fistula eradication.

  3. Create critical mass and support mechanisms, including through SSC, around the push to eradicate OF in the sub-region by 2030.

In particular, the focus areas of the dialogue are 1) Community-based prevention, 2) Strengthening health systems and 3) Human rights approach.

Want to make impact right away?

Fund a surgery directly through our joint innovative financing project with Operations Fistula. It will change her life, forever.

(Any contributions will be added to UNFPA/Operation Fistula joint Kickstart Quality pilot.)