INTERNATIONAL DAY TO END OBSTETRIC FISTULA: SHINING A LIGHT ON A SILENT SUFFERING

Today, May 23, marks the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula, a global observance aimed at raising awareness and galvanizing action to eliminate one of the most severe and neglected childbirth injuries affecting women in developing countries.

Obstetric fistula is a medical condition that results from prolonged and obstructed labour without timely access to quality maternal care. The pressure from the unborn child cuts off blood flow to the tissues between the vagina and the bladder or rectum, creating a hole that causes continuous leakage of urine or feces.

For the affected women—most of whom are young, poor, and living in rural areas—the consequences are devastating. Beyond the physical toll, many suffer from chronic infections, infertility, depression, and severe social stigma. They are often abandoned by their spouses, shunned by their communities, and left to live in isolation and shame.

According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), at least 500,000 women and girls are currently living with untreated obstetric fistula globally, with thousands of new cases emerging every year—most of them entirely preventable.

Health experts argue that the condition is a clear indicator of systemic failure in maternal healthcare. It thrives in environments where health systems are weak, gender inequality is high, and women lack access to education, family planning, and skilled birth attendants.

This year’s theme, “Breaking the Cycle: Preventing Fistula Worldwide”, underscores the need for comprehensive strategies that focus on prevention, timely surgical repair, community reintegration, and social protection for survivors.

Efforts are underway across Africa and Asia to improve access to emergency obstetric care and increase the number of trained fistula surgeons. However, progress remains slow and funding insufficient.

As Nigeria and other countries recommit to the Sustainable Development Goals, health advocates are urging government agencies, development partners, and civil society to treat the fight against obstetric fistula as a public health priority—because no woman should suffer such pain for giving life.