Enable 10 women with fistula* the opportunity to travel to a hospital for life-changing repair surgery.

Why we care: In up to 90% of cases, fistula can be surgically repaired, if women have access to a trained surgeon at an equipped hospital providing fistula repair.

How we’re solving this: An expert team of urogynecologists from the United States will provide surgery for 10 women from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with complex fistula.

During two trips over the coming months, these urogynecologists will offer surgery at a regional, referral hospital for 10 women with complex fistula.  These women live in remote areas of the DRC. It is nearly impossible for them to support their own travel to the hospital safely—as it is a long, costly journey. Round-trip ground and flight transportation costs $1,500 per woman. 

The urogynecologists will also mentor local surgeons in surgical techniques required for these repairs. All costs for the urogynecologists will be paid for by the EngenderHealth-led Fistula Care project. 

Since 2008, EngenderHealth has worked to improve the quality of and access to health services in the DRC. Working with six facilities throughout country, we partner to address the needs of women with obstetric and traumatic gynecologic fistula and build the capacity of hospitals and providers who care for the women. The main focus is reducing the number of new fistula cases and providing surgical treatment to those suffering from fistula.

*Fistula is a hole that develops between the birth canal and one or more of a woman’s internal organs. Fistula affects more than 2 million girls and women in the developing world.