RH Reality Check – Obstetric Fistula

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Earlier this week, RH Reality Check launched a series of blog posts focusing on obstetric fistula. The effort is a collaboration between a number of organizations, including EngenderHealth, UNFPA, The Campaign to End Fistula, The Fistula Foundation, Guttmacher Institute and the International Women’s Health Coalition:

The series is being published in conjunction with renewed efforts by advocates and the public health community to increase U.S. international support for efforts to address obstetric fistula, a wholly preventable but debilitating condition…generally rooted in lack of access to health care and discrimination against women. Fistula affects the lives of individual women, their children and families, and also grossly undermines women’s economic productivity and participation in society. The global public health community has called for comprehensive strategies both to prevent new cases and treat existing cases of fistula. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) will soon introduce legislation intended to support a comprehensive U.S. approach to fistula as part of a broader commitment to reducing maternal mortality and morbidity worldwide.