The World Health Organization (WHO) in Afghanistan has announced that it is providing comprehensive treatment services for obstetric fistula free of charge in the cities of Kabul and Kandahar. The organization emphasized that “fistula is completely treatable, and no woman should be deprived of essential health services.”
According to the organization’s statement, women and girls suffering from this condition can receive full and free medical treatment by visiting the designated health centers in Kabul and Kandahar.
Obstetric fistula is considered one of the most serious childbirth-related complications in developing countries. The condition usually occurs as a result of prolonged labor and lack of access to proper healthcare services, leading to an abnormal opening between the bladder and the vagina or between the rectum and the vagina.
As a result of this condition, patients experience continuous leakage of urine or feces, a situation that, in addition to severe health problems and various infections, also causes widespread social and psychological consequences for women. The disease mostly affects young women in rural and underserved areas.
The World Health Organization stressed that obstetric fistula can be completely cured through a relatively simple surgical procedure.
According to the announcement, fistula treatment services are available at Rabia Balkhi Hospital in Kabul and Mirwais Regional Hospital in Kandahar. Patients from other provinces can also travel to these centers to receive treatment.
This program is part of broader WHO efforts to improve maternal and child health in Afghanistan, implemented with financial and technical support from international partners, including the Islamic Development Bank.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) had previously announced that Afghanistan is the fifth country in the world with the highest rate of obstetric fistula cases. According to the organization, around 15,000 women in Afghanistan are living with this health condition.
The United Nations has warned that obstetric fistula can lead to physical disability and social isolation for women and emphasized that the prevention and treatment of this disease are of vital importance. The organization also stressed the need for women’s access to healthcare services, safe surgery, and essential medical equipment to address this issue in Afghanistan.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
