Fistula Care Plus

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Juliana received surgery for her fistula
Juliana received surgery for her fistula in Kumundini Hospital in Bangladesh
Amy Fowler/USAID

 

Fistula Care Plus aims to strengthen health system capacity for fistula prevention, detection, treatment, and reintegration in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Obstetric fistula, a hole that develops between the birth canal and one or more of a woman's internal organs, is caused by obstructed labor without access to timely and skilled medical care, such as cesarean section. Fistula results in chronic, uncontrollable leakage of urine and/or feces, a devastating, lifelong disability that affects a significant number of girls and women in Africa and Asia.

Activities are taking place in Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, Nigeria, and Uganda. The project works to:

  • Strengthen policy and the enabling environment to institutionalize fistula prevention, treatment and reintegration
  • Strengthen maternal health and family planning services in the public and private sectors to support fistula prevention and treatment
  • Enhance community understanding and practices to prevent fistula, improve access to fistula treatment, reduce stigma, and support reintegration of women and girls with fistula into their communities
  • Reduce transportation, communications, and financial barriers to accessing preventive care, detection, treatment, and reintegration support
  • Strengthen the evidence base for approaches to improve fistula care and scale up application of standard monitoring and evaluation indicators for prevention and treatment.

The project focuses on new partnerships, innovations and sustainable approaches.

Learn more on the Fistula Care Plus website.

FistulaCare Plus is a cooperative agreement from December 2013 to March 2021, awarded to EngenderHealth along with Dimagi, TERREWODE, Direct Relief, the Fistula Foundation, and the Maternal Health Task Force.

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