Today, at least one million women needlessly suffer from untreated obstetric fistula
They are women like Foster, from Zambia
While giving birth in 2009, Foster experienced prolonged and obstructed labor. As a result, she suffered from a childbirth injury known as obstetric fistula, which left her incontinent, humiliated, and shunned by her community. She leaked urine uncontrollably for the next 12 years of her life.
A single surgery healed Foster, and changed her future forever.
Like Foster, most women typically develop fistula in their early-to-mid 20s. Timely intervention and surgical repair enables a woman to reclaim 40 years or more of health and productivity.
“Fistula surgery is an example of an almost miraculous intervention that transforms lives.”
Nicholas Kristof, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist
Read about us in The New York Times >
Watch this segment on Morning Joe ⌄
We're the global leader in fistula treatment
Since 2009, we have delivered more than 100,000 life-transforming surgeries at nearly 200 sites in 35 countries across Africa and Asia. No other organization brings healing to more women who suffer from devastating childbirth injuries. We fund more fistula repair surgeries across more countries than any other organization, including the United Nations and the U.S. government.
Fistula Foundation is honored to be recognized as one of the recipients of the 2024 Kristof Holiday Impact Prize, which celebrates organizations working to make the world a better place.
People like you gave women their lives back
To our donors and matching donors: thank you for showing loving kindness to women whom you will likely never meet, and for giving women their lives back!
In total, the campaign raised more than $4 million, which will go directly to the field to support more than 6,400 life-transforming surgeries for women across Africa and Asia.
When the campaign kicked off in November 2024, the first $200,000 in funds received were matched by an anonymous donor. An additional $150,000 in donations were doubled by Darren and Ling Lew, who have both served on the Fistula Foundation Board of Directors. In January 2025, The Becker Alexander Fund and Kathy Rall matched a total of $86,900 in donations.
This campaign has closed, but you can still donate to make a difference in a woman’s life.
We’ve come so far, but there is still so far to go—at least one million women are needlessly suffering right now, for want of a single surgery that could cure them for life.
