Islamabad, May 23, 2026 - Obstetric fistula is one of the most devastating childbirth injuries a woman can endure. Fistula occurs when women do not receive care during prolonged obstructed labor; or when surgical injuries occur during obstetric or gynaecological procedures. It is a stark reminder of unequal access to quality maternal health services.
Fistula leaves women incontinent, often isolated from their families and communities, and burdened with profound physical, emotional and social suffering.
Yet obstetric fistula is both preventable and treatable.
No woman should suffer from this injury while giving life.
On this International Day to End Obstetric Fistula, we reaffirm a simple truth: every woman has the right not only to survive childbirth, but to live with health and dignity.
Globally, an estimated 500,000 women and girls suffer from obstetric fistula. These numbers are declining significantly owing to the sustained investments and partnerships for fistula treatment and prevention, yet more needs to be done. From 2003 to 2025, UNFPA supported more than 153,000 fistula repair surgeries worldwide.
In Pakistan, the threat of fistula looms on the heads of pregnant women, especially teenage girls, not only due to lack of access to quality maternal healthcare but also from preventable surgical injuries (Iatrogenic Fistula).
In Pakistan, a staggering 70% of cases of fistula are caused by surgical injuries. These sobering ratios demand immediate action for emergency obstetric care and the quality and safety of surgical services. An uncompromising commitment to specialized and standardized services and training for the next generation of healthcare providers across the health care system will save many women from this injury.
UNFPA Pakistan broke the ground to address this evolving crisis by establishing a Regional Center of Excellence for fistula care, training and innovation at Koohi Goth Hospital (KGH) Karachi which has become a national referral hub for fistula repair for patients and a training facility for surgeons. For repairs, the Centre is aiming to treat around 800 fistula survivors every year. The healing, with a 96% success rate, goes beyond the operation theatre and extends to psychosocial support, literacy, and vocational skills for survivors' complete social reintegration. For training, the Centre has hosted its first regional training for surgeons from high-burden countries including Bangladesh, Nepal, and Afghanistan, which makes Pakistan a leader of fistula treatment in the region.
Taking the challenge of surgically caused (Iatrogenic) fistula head on, UNFPA has conducted more than 5,000 competency-based trainings and developed a robust network of 23 specialized surgeons and a dedicated team of nurses and anaesthetists. UNFPA also continues to invest in safe pelvic surgery workshops for young doctors across Pakistan.
The cost of untreated fistula, measured in lost productivity alone, is estimated globally at nearly US$691 million each year. Every investment to end fistula mean an investment in women’s rights, dignity and economic participation. Every repaired fistula restores not only a woman’s health, but also her confidence, her social connections and her future.
The solutions are clear: prevent fistula from happening through universal access to quality maternal healthcare and training of surgeons; and treat fistula with timely repair and rehabilitation and address stigma attached to the survivors.
Pakistan has the expertise, partnerships and commitment needed to end obstetric fistula. What is required now is sustained investment and collective action. On this day to End Fistula, let us renew our commitment to a future where no woman suffers a preventable childbirth injury, and every woman can live with the health, dignity and opportunity she deserves.
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For more information
Mariyam Nawaz, Communications Analyst, UNFPA Pakistan | mnawaz@unfpa.org
