KARACHI: Highlighting the plight of women suffering from fistula, health experts at events held on Saturday underscored the need to improve maternal healthcare, especially by ensuring women’s access to emergency obstetric and family planning services.

The public awareness programmes held in connection with World Obstetric Fistula Day were dedicated to the theme ‘Her Health is a Right: Invest to End Fistula and Childbirth Injuries’.

At the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT), speakers discussed the causes, prevention, treatment and long-term impact of obstetric fistula on women’s lives.

The experts — Dr Mohammed Soheb Nizam and Prof Riffat Jaleel — explained that obstetric fistula was one of the most devastating yet preventable childbirth injuries; it usually occurred after prolonged obstructed labour when a woman couldn’t get timely medical treatment, particularly emergency obstetric care such as a Caesarean section (C-section).

As a result, they said, severe damage could occur between the birth canal and the bladder or rectum, causing continuous leakage of urine or stool.

However, they pointed out that the suffering was not only physical, as women living with fistula often faced social isolation, stigma and emotional trauma.

“Many women are unable to continue their normal family and social lives because of a condition that is largely preventable and treatable,” regretted Prof Pushpa Sirichand Sachdev.

According to medical experts, nearly 4,000 to 5,000 women in Pakistan develop obstetric fistulas every year during childbirth. Yet many women, especially in rural areas, cannot reach hospitals in time because of long distances, poor transport systems, lack of free ambulance services and deliveries conducted without skilled birth attendants.

“Despite the growing need, only a limited number of women receive treatment each year because of a shortage of trained fistula surgeons. Nevertheless, timely surgery can restore health, confidence, and hope,” Prof Murli Dhar said, adding that over 1,000 fistula surgeries had been performed at SIUT so far, including nine robotic vesicovaginal fistula repairs.

In addition, SIUT ran a female urology clinic every Friday, where these patients could also come.

Meanwhile, at a presser held at the Karachi Press Club, the speakers informed the audience that an estimated two million women lived with fistula in the developing countries.

They added that thousands of other women simply suffered in silence, unaware that they could seek medical assistance.

“Ninety per cent of cases of obstetric fistula result in stillbirths,” said Dr Sajjad Ahmed Siddiqui, representing the Pakistan National Forum on Women’s Health, stressing the need for public awareness on fistula and efforts aimed at improving the status of women for a positive social change.

The speakers — Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro, Dr Muhammad Ismail Memon, Dr Sana Ashfaq, activist Sheema Kermani, Dr Sonia Naqvi and Renuka Swami — called for greater investment in quality maternal healthcare and for addressing the social, cultural, political, and economic determinants affecting maternal and reproductive health.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2026