Fistula

While fistula has been all but eradicated in the Western world, it persists in low-resource countries and continues to have devastating effects on millions of women and girls. A fistula is a hole between the birth canal and the bladder and/or rectum. Obstetric fistula is caused by obstructed labor-without timely medical attention and a caesarean section, the pressure of the baby-s head against the mother-s pelvis cuts off blood supply, causing tissue to die and a hole to form. Traumatic gynecologic fistula is the result of direct gynecological trauma, often as the result of violent rape or other forms of sexual assault. Both types of fistula usually lead to lifelong incontinence and social ostracism.

The ACQUIRE Project is implementing activities in several countries to build local capacity to treat and prevent fistula, as well as provide reintegration support to fistula clients. ACQUIRE is currently coordinating USAID-s global fistula activities in: Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Uganda, along with regional efforts in East and West Africa.