Obstetric Fistula survivors find Hope through UNFPA-backed treatment centers in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – Obstetric fistula, one of the most devastating childbirth injuries known to medicine, continues to haunt women in Pakistan and across the world, despite being entirely preventable and treatable, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) warned on the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula. The condition develops when women endure prolonged obstructed labor without timely medical intervention, or suffer injuries during obstetric or gynecological surgeries. The result is catastrophic: permanent incontinence, severe physical trauma, emotional breakdown, and social isolation, with many women abandoned by families and communities. UNFPA emphasized a stark reality, no woman should suffer life-altering injury simply for giving life. Globally, around 500,000 women and girls are still living with obstetric fistula, even as sustained international efforts have helped reduce cases. Between 2003 and 2025, UNFPA supported more than 153,000 fistula repair surgeries worldwide, signaling progress but also exposing the scale of unfinished work. In Pakistan, the crisis is even more alarming. Fistula disproportionately affects vulnerable women, particularly adolescents, due to gaps in access to quality maternal healthcare. A disturbing 70% of cases in Pakistan are caused by surgical injuries (iatrogenic fistula), a figure that points directly to systemic weaknesses in surgical safety, obstetric care, and medical training. Health experts warn that without urgent reform in emergency obstetric services and surgical standards, preventable injuries will continue to devastate lives. In response, UNFPA Pakistan has established a Regional Center of Excellence for fistula care, training, and innovation at Koohi Goth Hospital in Karachi, now serving as a national referral hub. The facility is capable of treating around 800 women annually, with an impressive 96% surgical success rate. But treatment goes far beyond surgery, survivors receive psychosocial counseling, literacy education, and v