WUNRN
Global Obstetric Fistula Care Map
First-Ever Global Map of Devastating Childbirth Injury
March 1st, 2012 - First Posted by UNFPA
SANTA BARBARA, CA/ SAN JOSE, CA/ UNITED NATIONS, New
York—The largest and most comprehensive map of available services for women
living with obstetric fistula was launched today by Direct Relief
International, the Fistula Foundation, and UNFPA, the United Nations Population
Fund. The release of the Global Fistula Map, a
major step forward in understanding the landscape of worldwide treatment
capacity for obstetric fistula, will help streamline the allocation of
resources and raise awareness of the condition.
Obstetric fistula, one of the most devastating childbirth injuries, is caused
by the lack of a skilled birth attendant and access to emergency care during
delivery. It is a highly stigmatizing, though in most cases treatable condition
that results from prolonged, obstructed labor and causes chronic incontinence.
According to currently accepted estimates, there are some 50,000-100,000 new
cases every year.
“Tragically, there are unacceptably high numbers of fistula cases, yet we see
from the map data gathered so far that treatment currently only reaches a
fraction of patients annually—an estimated 14,000 women in 2010—not counting
the significant backlog of cases,” said Gillian Slinger, the UNFPA Coordinator
of the Campaign to End Fistula. “Documenting where treatment is available is
critical to providing care, raising resources and restoring the health and
dignity of women and girls living with fistula. If we know where service gaps
are, we can then better steer activities forward, to get help to all those who
need it.”
The Global Fistula Map is an evolving collaborative effort that was developed
by Direct Relief and can be found at www.GlobalFistulaMap.org.
It highlights over 150 health facilities providing fistula repair in 40
countries across Africa, South East Asia, and the
“Helping women with fistula receive life-restoring surgical care requires
knowing where the women are and where care is available,” said Lindsey
Pollaczek, the Senior Program Manager who led the effort on behalf of Direct
Relief International. "Direct Relief uses mapping technology and tools to
target medical resources more effectively, and we are so pleased to do this
work to support the larger effort to help women with fistula get the care they
need."
The map will be expanded and continuously updated with information provided by
experts and practitioners around the globe about facilities providing fistula
repair and rehabilitation services.
“The Global Fistula Map is a crucial step forward in the field of fistula
treatment. It is a dynamic and powerful tool that can help target scarce
resources where they are most needed to treat women with obstetric fistula,”
said Kate Grant, CEO of the Fistula Foundation.
The Global Fistula Map is a joint project by Direct Relief International, the
Fistula Foundation and UNFPA, with data also contributed by EngenderHealth,
WAHA International, and the International Society of Obstetric Fistula
Surgeons.
About Direct Relief
International
Direct Relief International is a medical relief organization active in all 50
states and 70 countries. It works with more than 1,000 health clinics across
the
About The Fistula
Foundation
The Fistula Foundation is dedicated to the treatment and prevention of
obstetric fistula, the most devastating injury resulting from unrelieved
obstructed labor. The Foundation is the largest organization in the world
focused solely on fistula, supporting programs in 15 countries and does not
take money from any government. Based in
About UNFPA and the
Campaign to End Fistula
UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund works to ensure that every pregnancy
is wanted, every birth is safe, every young person is free of HIV/AIDS, and
every girl and woman is treated with dignity and respect. The Campaign to End
Fistula, launched in 2003 is led by UNFPA. The Campaign has expanded over the
years and currently involves 64 global partner agencies, including Direct
Relief International and the Fistula Foundation. The Campaign addresses all
aspects of obstetric fistula: prevention, treatment and social reintegration of
women recovering from treatment. Its long-term goal is to make fistula as rare
in developing countries as it is in the industrialized world. For more
information, please visit: http://www.EndFistula.org.