Congratulations to everyone at the Worldwide Fistula Fund on opening the Danja Fistula Center in Niger. Direct Relief worked closely with Danja Fistula Center surgeons and staff to arrange a donation of essential medical and surgical supplies needed to help the hospital to launch their program. Danja Fistula Center plans to provide up to 500 women per year with life-restoring surgery.

The Executive Director responded to Direct Relief’s donation by saying “I want to give a HUGE thank you for the incredibly generous supply procurement and shipment. All of the goods look great.  We couldn’t do the work in Niger without Direct Relief International’s continued support and are so thankful for the collaboration.”

About 2 million women worldwide live with obstetric fistula (a severe medical condition in which a fistula (hole) develops after severe or failed childbirth, when adequate medical care is not available).

Women who develop fistula are left with chronic incontinence, the odor of which often humiliates and stigmatizes the woman, adding to the grief she feels from the physical injury and loss of her baby in delivery. Additionally, she is often shunned from her community. Fifty thousand new cases are reported each year, though many are never counted.

Fistula repair surgery provides an opportunity to women that have in many cases been living with the devestating condition for years or even decades. The rate of success for repair on the first attempt can be as high as 90 percent. A successful surgery restores a woman’s dignity and livelihood.