Fistula Fortnight: Innovative partnership brings mass treatment and public awareness towards ending obstetric fistula

ObjectiveAs part of the global Campaign to End Fistula, the Fistula Fortnight, a 2-week mass obstetric fistula treatment project, was organized in northern Nigeria to contribute to reducing the backlog of untreated fistulas and raise awareness regarding obstetric fistulas and safe motherhood.MethodsAn array of partners joined forces to provide free surgical treatment, strengthen the capacity of existing facilities to manage obstetric fistulas, and utilize media strategies to raise awareness.ResultsThe Fistula Fortnight took place from February 21 to March 6, 2005, at 4 established fistula repair centers in the northern Nigeria states of Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, and Sokoto. A total of 569 women received treatment, with an 87.8% rate of successful closures. The highly publicized event also raised awareness on the issue of obstetric fistula and helped put a face to maternal deaths.ConclusionThe Fortnight, which required extensive and thoughtful planning involving many persons cognizant of health system and quality of care issues, was effective in drawing attention to the vast fistula problem and contributed to reducing the backlog of patients.