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: “End Fistula Now" is the theme of the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula 2023. Obstetric fistula is a development and public health issue, but it’s also a human rights issue, one that grants everyone the right to health and a life of dignity.The injury can be prevented by sexual and reproductive health care, access to contraception and access to skilled birth attendants and high-quality emergency obstetric care. With its many partners, UNFPA leads the Campaign to End Fistula, which works in more than 55 countries on prevention, treatment and rehabilitation efforts. It can be treated with reconstructive surgery, though many women and girls don’t know about treatment, can’t access it or can’t afford it. Follow the conversations with the hashtags:#EndFistula, #EndFistulaDay; #23May.
EVENTS: The International Day to End Obstetric Fistula 2023 will be observed on May 23rd at UNFPA Headquaters in New york. The United Nations Member States are invited to consult the resolution to end fistula by 2030. We also welcome you to participate in the XXIV FIGO World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics to be held in Paris, France from 9 to 12 October 2023 to learn, share, build alliances, and shape the future of women’s and reproductive health. Join us to help more women living with obstetric fistula to recover and rebuild their lives.
PODCASTS: Preventing and managing obstetric fistula contribute to the Sustainable Development Goal 3 of improving maternal health. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: 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.