Campaign to End Fistula

COUNTRY IN FOCUS

The Campaign to End Fistula in Sudan

Through a recent campaign at the El Fasher Maternity Hospital in North Darfur, held from 19 February to 5 March 2008, more than 40 women with fistula received free surgical treatment. The UNFPA-supported media network in North Darfur covered the campaign daily and is developing programmes for radio and television to raise awareness of the issue.

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	In Afghanistan
	In Afghanistan, the Malalay Maternity Hospital and the maternity ward of Badakshan Hospital were recently refurbished and equipped to undertake fistula repair operations. Additionally, several OB/GYN specialists and anesthesiologists from both hospitals received extensive training on fistula repair and case management at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital in Bangladesh.

	In Eritrea
	In Eritrea, a team of surgeons from Stanford University, in partnership with UNFPA, conducted training workshops in July and December 2007 – part of an ongoing effort to strengthen national capacity to treat fistula. Dozens of women in Eritrea benefited from free surgical treatment.

	In Democratic Republic of Congo
	Through a recent campaign in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), supported by the country’s Ministry of Health and UNFPA, 36 women were treated at two health facilities: Nganda Hospital and Saint Joseph Hospital. Speaking at a launch event in June 2007, Olive Lembe Kabila, the First Lady of DRC, called on all affected women to benefit from the free treatment offered through the campaign.

	In Pakistan
	In Pakistan, where an estimated 5000 new cases of fistula occur each year, UNFPA is supporting efforts to surgically repair and rehabilitate fistula sufferers at seven regional centres. The centre is Islamabad was inaugurated by UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Obaid and the Health Minister of Pakistan on 27 April 2007.