Ensure All Women Have Access to Fistula Surgery

When Halima went into labor, it took two days before her husband was convinced to bring her to a health facility. She needed a cesarean section — but they had no anesthesia. The pain was unbearable, but when she screamed, they started beating her.

Tragically, her baby could not be saved and she developed what she later learned was an obstetric fistula. Her husband left her because he could not stand the smell caused by her injury.

Millions of women in low-resource countries give birth without access to medical help. If a woman's labor becomes obstructed, she could remain in excruciating pain for days before her baby is finally freed. Her baby likely dies and she is often left with an obstetric fistula, which is a small hole created by constant pressure from the fetus, rendering her incontinent.

Halima suffered for ten years with fistula before learning that she wasn't alone and that treatment was available. After years of leaking urine and feeling unclean according to her personal beliefs regarding purity, Halima was finally able to find peace and pray again.

No woman should suffer like this. Help ensure every woman has access to life-changing fistula surgery.