International Day to End Obstetric Fistula

International Day to End Obstetric Fistula

The International Day to End Obstetric Fistula is a global observance aimed at raising awareness about the devastating consequences of obstetric fistula, and the necessary interventions to prevent and treat this preventable childbirth injury. Obstetric fistula is a severe medical condition affecting women that causes chronic incontinence, recurring infections, and social stigmatization. This day focuses on advocacy efforts, promoting preventative measures, and ensuring access to quality maternal healthcare services and necessary surgeries for affected women.

The United Nations General Assembly officially established the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula in 2012. South Africa, like many other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, is deeply affected by obstetric fistula. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 2 million women and girls worldwide live with an untreated fistula, with 50,000 to 100,000 new cases occurring every year. In South Africa, limited access to quality maternal healthcare in some areas and lack of awareness of the issue contribute to the persistence of obstetric fistula. Efforts aim to generate greater attention, funding, and collaborative efforts to alleviate the suffering of South African women impacted by this condition.

Typical activities during the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula in South Africa include awareness campaigns, public discussions, and educational events about obstetric fistula prevention and treatment. The International Day to End Obstetric Fistula is observed annually on May 23, making it essential for South Africans to participate and contribute to the worldwide effort to end this preventable yet life-altering condition.

Top 8 Facts for 2026 International Day to End Obstetric Fistula in South Africa

• The upcoming International Day to End Obstetric Fistula on May 23, 2026, serves as a critical reminder of the 2005 Johannesburg Call to Action on Ending Fistula, a landmark regional agreement hosted in South Africa that first urged African governments to integrate fistula prevention into national maternal health policies.
• While traditional causes often involve remote births, South African medical circles are increasingly focused on the rise of iatrogenic fistula, which refers to injuries accidentally caused during surgical procedures such as caesarean sections in a hospital setting.
• Global experts in maternal health will descend on Cape Town for the XXV FIGO World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics in late 2025, an event expected to spark significant local discussion on the "silent crisis" of obstetric injuries leading up to the 2026 observance.
• Research conducted by the Colorectal Unit at the University of KwaZulu-Natal continues to benchmark success rates for complex repairs, highlighting that while the condition is devastating, successful surgical closure can be achieved in over 90% of cases at South African tertiary facilities.
• The ongoing theme “Her health, her right: Shaping a future without fistula” resonates deeply with the South African constitutional mandate for universal access to reproductive healthcare and the dignity of all women.
• The National Department of Health’s triennial Saving Mothers reports provide essential data for South Africans looking to understand the gaps in emergency obstetric care that contribute to long-term maternal morbidities like fistula.
• Activists and healthcare providers use this day to advocate for the training of more specialist surgeons under the guidance of the International Society of Obstetric Fistula Surgeons, which maintains a dedicated regional representative for Southern Africa to oversee local standards of care.
• Beyond physical healing, the observance highlights the importance of social reintegration programs, as survivors in South Africa often face intense stigma and requires holistic support to return to their communities and the workforce.

In the News and Trending in South Africa for International Day to End Obstetric Fistula

Top things to do in South Africa for this observance

• Read several stories about women who have dealt with obstetric fistula.
• Learn more about the campaign to end Fistula and how you can help.
• Check out your local community outreach programs. Medical organizations may offer free outreach services in rural and underserved communities, providing fistula screenings, treatment referrals, and education on the prevention of obstetric fistula.
• Read a book about obsteric fistula and the challenges faced by South African women. Some suggestions include:
  1. Saving Mothers, Giving Life: Reducing Maternal and Newborn Mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa and Beyond by Suzanne Bell. This book discusses various maternal and neonatal health challenges, including obstetric fistula, in sub-Saharan Africa and addresses South Africa's situation within that context.
  2. Ending Fistula: Challenges, Innovations, and Resilience by Sohier Elneil and Lauri Romanzi. This book offers a comprehensive and in-depth exploration of the ongoing fight to end obstetric fistula, with a focus on innovations and resilience.
  3. Reproductive Health and Maternal Sacrifice: Women, Choice and Responsibility by Pam Lowe. This book looks into the broader issues of reproductive health and maternal sacrifice and how it contributes to conditions like obstetric fistula.