Courtesy of UNFPA Liberia.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has committed US$245,000 to support surgeries and reintegration for obstetric fistula—a childbirth injury that creates a hole between a woman's vagina and or rectum.
Benedict Roberts, head of the ECOWAS National Office in Liberia, said women experiencing urine and stool leakage due to obstetric fistula will be identified, treated, and receive livelihood training such as tailoring, pastry making, cosmetology, and soap-making that prepares them for reintegration back into their communities.
“When they finish, we give them a small financial package along with the skills they learn to start as their own empowerment,” he said.
Obstetric fistula is a global health issue, with poorer countries being mostly affected. According to the United Nations, an estimated half a million women and girls are living with the condition, with thousands of new cases occurring each year. Most of these are in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Victims face severe stigma, neglect, and abandonment from their families and communities, leading to trauma and significant psychological impacts on their mental and social well-being. The constant leakage of urine or feces results in severe infections and chronic pain. The malodor associated with fistula makes it extremely difficult for these women to work or participate in social activities, further exacerbating their poverty and social isolation.
In Liberia, the leading risk factors are common, including teenage pregnancy, lack of proper obstetric care, low-skilled birth attendants, and rape. Underdevelopment, rebuilding from the 14-year conflict, and the Ebola crisis have created a critical gap in the country's healthcare system, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Benedict Roberts, head of the ECOWAS National Office in Liberia, said women experiencing urine and stool leakage due to obstetric fistula will be identified, treated, and receive livelihood training such as tailoring, pastry making, cosmetology, and soap-making that prepares them for reintegration back into their communities.
“When they finish, we give them a small financial package along with the skills they learn to start as their own empowerment,” he said.
Obstetric fistula is a global health issue, with poorer countries being mostly affected. According to the United Nations, an estimated half a million women and girls are living with the condition, with thousands of new cases occurring each year. Most of these are in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Victims face severe stigma, neglect, and abandonment from their families and communities, leading to trauma and significant psychological impacts on their mental and social well-being. The constant leakage of urine or feces results in severe infections and chronic pain. The malodor associated with fistula makes it extremely difficult for these women to work or participate in social activities, further exacerbating their poverty and social isolation.
In Liberia, the leading risk factors are common, including teenage pregnancy, lack of proper obstetric care, low-skilled birth attendants, and rape. Underdevelopment, rebuilding from the 14-year conflict, and the Ebola crisis have created a critical gap in the country's healthcare system, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
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