PURPOSE: The International Day to end obstetric fistula is observed every year on 23 May. 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. The day aims to ensuring access to emergency obstetric care and skilled health professionals—especially midwives—to all women to prevent and help ensure treatment for obstetric fistula.
FORUM: “Her health, her right: Shaping a future without fistula.” International Day to End Obstetric Fistula 2025. It is one of the most devastating childbirth injuries – and it is entirely preventable. Obstetric fistula is a hole between the birth canal and bladder or rectum or both, caused by prolonged, obstructed labour without access to timely, quality medical treatment. It often leads to severe and chronic health problems, depression and social isolation. Persistent social and economic inequities and inadequate sexual and reproductive healthcare drive fistula cases by limiting access to life-saving and life-restoring care, especially in marginalized communities. In 90 % of cases, the baby dies. Some 500,000 women and girls live with fistula today. The fact that women still suffer from this condition is a global injustice that must end. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #EndFistula, #EndFistulaDay; #23May.
EVENTS: On May 23rd The International Day to End Obstetric Fistula 2025 will be observed at UNFPA Headquarters in New York. The United Nations Member States are invited to consult the resolution to end fistula by 2030. We are hopeful to develop even more strategic partnerships. One such partnership is with the World Association of Trainees in Obstetrics and Gynecology (WATOG). Having been inaugurated under the auspices of FIGO, WATOG is now leading the path for future OBGYNs. We should all continuously strengthen our next generation of professionals. we wish to encourage member societies and partners to explore the twinning opportunities. As FIGO – through their Regional Trustees – localises women’s health in five regions. Together, through north-south and south-south collaborations will accelerate the achievement of the sustainability and development goals (SDGs). With in mind, the theme this year “Her health, her right: Shaping a future without fistula.”, he observance will help us find the ways to create effective, rights-based and culturally appropriate solutions, we must build on the voices and experiences of women and girls, especially fistula survivors. By putting women and girls at the heart of stronger health systems and by bridging health and social gaps, we could end fistula by 2030. It would require a comprehensive approach to strengthening sexual, reproductive, maternal and newborn health services – including investing in robust health systems, as well as ensuring access to midwives and timely emergency obstetric care, particularly in hard-to-reach areas. The condition is treatable, with the right resources: A full recovery requires comprehensive rehabilitation and psychosocial and economic support. UNFPA supported nearly 150,000 surgical repairs for fistula between 2003 and 2024 and has helped integrate 15,000 women and girls back into society – but this is just a fraction of those who need it. Register to attend!
As FIGO Host the XXV FIGO World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics in Cape Town, South Africa, in October 2025. Collectively, we must pursue the women’s health agenda. FIGO, the global voice for women’s health, must leap onward! You are to participate to these congresses to learn, share, build alliances, and shape the future of women’s and reproductive health. Pre-register for the FIGO 2025 World Congress to contribute to help more women living with obstetric fistula to recover and rebuild their lives.
WEBINAR: On thursday 8 May 2025, from: 13:00-14:30 UTC a webinar entitled "Closing the obstetric fistula treatment gap." was held by the FIGO to mark the International Obstetric Fistula Day 2025. Obstetric fistula is a devastating childbirth injury caused by prolonged, obstructed labour without timely access to high-quality medical care. The resulting hole between the birth canal and bladder and/or rectum leads to serious long-term problems with leaking urine, faeces or both. If not surgically repaired, the injury can leave affected women and girls incontinent for the rest of their lives, resulting in chronic medical problems, depression, social isolation and deepening poverty. Most obstetric fistulas can be repaired via surgery but unfortunately, there are very few trained fistula surgeons. With the significant human suffering that comes with this condition, it is alarming that approximately only one in 50 affected women have access to treatment. Obstetric fistula is a sign of global inequality - the world's health and social systems are failing the poorest and most disadvantaged women and girls. Obstetric fistula primarily affects individuals in low-resource countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and certain parts of Asia. FIGO's next regional webinar will bring together leading fistula surgeons and advocates to dive deeper into this issue in the African context. Join us, as speakers discuss epidemiology, clinical aspects and capacity building to address the global shortage of fistula specialists. Addressing obstetric fistula is an integral part of FIGO's programme work, with the Fistula Surgery Training Initiative. This webinar will spotlight this ambitious multi-year programme, which trains local fistula surgeons and multidisciplinary teams to provide life-transforming care to women affected by this debilitating condition. This webinar is led by the FIGO Trustee for Africa, Prof Blami Dao, in collaboration with the African Federation of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (AFOG), Société Africaine de Gynécologie Obstétrique (SAGO), FIGO Committee on Obstetric Fistula, Focus Fistula, Fistula Foundation and the FIGO Fistula Surgery Training Initiative.
Moderator: Prof Blami Dao, FIGO Trustee for Africa & Eastern Mediterranean, Burkina Faso
Speakers:
Epidemiology of obstetric fistula in Africa. Presented by Dr Weston Khisa, African Federation of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (AFOG), Kenya
Incontinence after fistula surgery. Presented by Dr Igor Vaz, Focus Fistula, Mozambique
Training OBGYN residents in obstetric fistula care. Presented by Prof Pierre Marie Tebeu, Société Africaine de Gynécologie-Obstétrique (SAGO), Cameroon.
Power of partnership: Building networks to expand fistula care. Presented by Ms Lindsey Pollaczek, Fistula Foundation, United States.
FIGO Fistula Surgery Training Initiative - A trainer perspective. Presented by Dr Peter Majinge, FIGO Committee on Obstetric Fistula, Tanzania.
Language: English with live interpretation in French, Spanish and Portuguese. Register to participate!
STATEMENT: “No woman or girl should have to endure the agony of obstetric fistula,” says UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem. “We must ensure that every woman and girl – no matter who she is or where she lives – can access the high-quality sexual and reproductive health services that are her right, and scale up proven interventions, including fistula repair surgery, that support survivors. Together we can restore dignity and hope.”
PODCASTS: Preventing and managing obstetric fistula contribute to the Sustainable Development Goal 3 of improving maternal health. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: ‘‘Breaking the cycle; Preventing Fistula Now." This May 23rd, Demonstrate your commitment to women’s health and reproductive rights, health equity, and social justice. Join the Campaign to end Fistula and Get the communication materials!
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
The International Day to End Obstetric Fistula aims to raise awareness about obstetric fistula and the dangers of it. Obstetric fistula is a childbirth injury that can affect both the mother and the child.
According to the fistula foundation, it can occur when a mother has prolonged or obstructed labor. Lack of emergency medical care can leave her in pain and worse, the baby may die.
This injury can leave a woman with physical and psychological consequences such as the inability to control her body’s waste, chronic infections, or social isolation. This day encourages women affected to seek treatment and to understand that they are not alone. The fistula Treament chain must be reliably funded, functioning and coordinated.
GET INVOLVED!
An urgent redoubling of efforts is required to keep fistula from being a neglected issue by intensifying resource mobilization in order to end fistula within a generation.
Reach families and communities with key messages on fistula prevention, treatment and social reintegration.
Advocate and support universal access to sexual and reproductive health services.
Sensitize and mobilize communities as advocates for fistula elimination and safe motherhood.
Strengthening and expanding interventions to ensure universal access to education.
Developing linkages and engagement with civil society organizations and women’s empowerment groups to help eliminate obstetric fistula.
PARTNERS
The H6 partnership harnesses the collective strengths of the UNFPA, the Maternal Health Thematic Fund (MHTF), the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, the UNICEF, the UN Women, the World Health Organization (WHO), the UNAIDS and the World Bank Group to deliver technical support and advance the Every Woman Every Child Global Strategy in support of country leadership and action for women's, children's and adolescents' health.
With the support of private individuals, philanthropic foundations, such as Zonta International, and private corporations, including Johnson & Johnson, Total, Noble Energy, Virgin Unite, UNFCU Foundation and the MTN Foundation.