Dr Murray Sheard, Chief Executive Officer of cbm New Zealand, has worked in international development for over 15 years. He reports on an initiative that is changing women’s lives in Nigeria.

Obstetric fistula occurs during birthing when a hole (or fistula) develops in the birth canal, causing urine and faeces to leak uncontrollably.

The main contributors to obstetric fistula in developing countries are extreme poverty, the low status of women and girls, and the under-resourced health system. Malnutrition also contributes to stunting, when the female skeleton does not fully mature, leading to birthing difficulties like fistula.

An estimated 2 million young women live with untreated obstetric fistula in the developing world, and according to the WHO, between 50,000 to 100,000 women worldwide develop obstetric fistula annually. Globally, for every woman who receives treatment, at least 50 women go without.

Women living with fistula are often excluded from daily activities, their husbands may leave them, and many are pushed out of their village because of their incontinence. They become isolated, stigmatised, and are often severed of all means of livelihood. Many women live with the condition for decades, unable to access vital medical intervention that can transform their lives. The consequences impact the entire family, devastating the lives of its victims and lead to extreme socio-economic deprivation.

Nigeria is placed among the top 10 most dangerous places for a woman to give birth and accounts for 40 percent of fistula cases worldwide - the highest of any country globally. Women endure the scourge of fistula for life, largely due to the lack of medical care during labour.

cbm, also known as Christian Blind Mission, is an international Christian development organisation, whose mission includes delivering life-changing surgeries to those disadvantaged by poverty and disability. cbm-funded partner hospitals can provide corrective surgical repair for women who experience obstetric fistula, free of charge.

To find out more about our work, visit www.cbmnz.org.nz.