The United Nations Population Fund has recently announced that 15,000 women and girls in Afghanistan are afflicted with obstetric fistula.
In a message published on its X account to mark the “International Day to End Fistula,” the organization stated that Afghanistan ranks fifth in the world for the prevalence of this condition.
The UN Population Fund emphasized that this disease leads to disability and social isolation.
The announcement noted that prevention and treatment require healthcare services, safe surgical procedures, and access to essential medical supplies.
It is important to mention that obstetric fistula is a severe injury resulting from prolonged and difficult labor, causing chronic health problems, social stigma, and uncontrollable leakage of urine or feces.
Many women who develop obstetric fistula after childbirth are unable to work and face severe psychological pressures. They often suffer in silence due to shame, limited access to specialized services, and a lack of awareness about the possibility of treatment.
Additionally, the World Health Organization recently reported that the maternal mortality rate in Afghanistan stands at 521 deaths per 100,000 live births.
This comes at a time when the interim government has imposed extensive restrictions on women’s access to healthcare services since regaining control over Afghanistan, and in some provinces, treatment for female patients without a male guardian has been prohibited.
