Obstetric fistula
For an Ethiopia free from fistula.
Our aim. To increase access to and awareness of maternal health in order to make childbirth safer and eliminate fistula in Ethiopia.
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The challenge today
In rural areas especially, there are simply not enough maternal health services for pregnant women. Only two-fifths of women receive adequate antenatal care and half of women still don't have a health professional on hand when they give birth.
This is a leading reason why more than 3,000 women develop obstetric fistula in Ethiopia each year – an internal childbirth tear from a prolonged and obstructed labour. Not only does fistula often result in stillbirth, it leaves a woman incontinent, shunned by her community and living alone in pain and fear.
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The solution you can be part of
Fistula is both preventable and curable – and you can be part of the solution today. Our on-the-ground partners have a three-part approach to treat, prevent and reintegrate cases of fistula in Ethiopia:
- Identifying women living in hiding from fistula and arrange for free, quality treatment, including patient transport and complete pre- and post-operative care
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- Training former fistula patients as ambassadors for safe motherhood to educate communities about maternal health and break down the stigma surrounding fistula
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- Training new surgeons, nurses, midwives and doctors to ensure more women can access medical assistance when in labour
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- Teaching former patients different employable skills so they have the skills to re-enter their community and be financially independent
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See the solution in action
Fistula survivors in the middle of the Safe Motherhood Ambassador training course. The training course takes 12 days and upon graduation each woman is presented with a toolkit containing all the things she’ll need as she travels from village to village to spread fistula awareness and support.
Women recovering from their fistula repair surgery at the Gondar Fistula Hospital in northern Ethiopia. Here they receive free, quality treatment including pre- and post-operative care.
Trained Safe Motherhood Ambassador Berhan (right) conducting a home visit with a new mother. She’ll provide post-natal support, make sure both mother and child are healthy, and ensure the mother knows where to go/who to contact in case of complications.
Holding a community engagement event in rural Ethiopia to break down the taboo behind fistula and ensure women aren’t left alone and isolated if they develop fistula.
A couples counselling and male sensitivity workshop for a fistula survivor and her husband. In parts of Ethiopia, it is common for the husband to leave his wife if she develops fistula. Teaching men about fistula is a big step forward to make sure women can get the support they need for safe pregnancy and childbirth.
Here a fistula survivor tends her livestock in her “sheep fattening” business. Because so many women with fistula are forced to live in isolation, they have no means or opportunity to provide for themselves or their children. That’s why after receiving surgery, women are given the chance for skills training and are given a small micro-loan to start their own small, independent and sustainable business.
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The impact you can have
“Now I am healed and so happy. I will educate my community about obstetric fistula.”
When 32-year-old Aberash went into labour, there was no doctor nearby so she had to give birth at home. After three agonising days, she lost her baby and developed fistula.
“I was hiding myself. I was not drinking enough water for fear of urine leakage. My neighbours isolated me. I became hopeless.”
Aberash lived in misery for 15 months. It was thanks to a travelling Safe Motherhood Ambassador that she not only learnt her condition could be cured and was assisted in getting life-changing fistula surgery, but had the chance to train as a Safe Motherhood Ambassador.
Today Aberash is committed to finding and helping other women suffering from fistula. Through her, you're creating a ripple effect of change in the fight against fistula.
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Meet your project partners
Healing Hands of Joy
Healing Hands of Joy (HHOJ) train former fistula patients as Safe Motherhood Ambassadors who identify new fistula cases and help prevent fistula from happening in the first space. They also host community workshops, religious leader training, film screenings and male sensitivity training to break down the stigma against fistula.
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Hope of Light
Founded by senior fistula surgeon Dr Ambaye, Hope of Light operates three hospitals that provide free obstetric fistula surgeries for women in need. They also raise awareness in remote areas, provide transport to women and train more medical professionals in the treatment and post-operative care of fistula.
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SMMMS
Simien Mountains Mobile Medical Services (SMMMS) deliver free, essential medical care to villages in the remote, isolated Simien Mountains. They’re building new health infrastructure, supporting the services of existing providers and creating flexible, roaming options to bring healthcare to areas that would otherwise be inaccessible.
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Make your impact
Donate today to help identify and rehabilitate a woman like Aberash living with fistula.
