Help is possible!
The technique for surgical intervention in the case of obstetric fistulas was developed in the 1950s by James Marion Sims in South Carolina, USA. After he had introduced his operating technique in New York, he founded the first women’s hospital, specialized in the treatment of obstetric fistulas. Apparently, 150 years ago, childbirth injuries were a problem also in our Western World, and disappeared only when medical help for complicated labour became wide spread and easily available.
The operative treatment of most obstetric fistulas is vot very complicated. A healing rate of 90% is realistic. The greatest challenges in the treatment of women with childbirth injuries are finding good surgical instruments, suitable infrastructure and well-trained surgeons in the countries concerned. Another problem is reaching the girls and women in far-off villages to inform them about the possibility of an operation. Most of the women and girls are however too poor to pay for an operation.
women’s hope international is prepared to help these suffering women
and to face the challenges mentioned. You can help too!:
The way back
