IV 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 747 

Supporting the goals and ideals of May 23 as the ‘‘International Day to 

End Obstetric Fistula’’ to significantly raise awareness and intensify 

actions towards ending obstetric fistula. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 24, 2016 

Ms. DELAURO (for herself, Mr. DEUTCH, Mr. CONYERS, and Mr. MCGOVERN) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Oversight and Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of May 23 as the ‘‘International Day to End Obstetric Fistula’’ to significantly 

raise awareness and intensify actions towards ending obstetric fistula. 

Whereas the United Nations has designated May 23 as the 

‘‘International Day to End Obstetric Fistula’’; 

Whereas obstetric fistula is a catastrophic childbirth injury 

which arises as a complication of obstructed labor; 

Whereas an estimated 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 women currently are afflicted by the devastating physical and social 

effects of obstetric fistula, a scourge of epidemic proportions; 


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•HRES 747 IH 

Whereas, as many as 50,000 to 100,000 new cases occur 

each year; 

Whereas historically, obstetric fistula affected women in the 

United States and around the world and advances in obstetric care and access to improved surgical techniques 

resulted in a drastic reduction in obstetric fistula by the 

early 20th century in the United States; 

Whereas today, obstetric fistula primarily affects the poorest 

women in the poorest parts of the world; 

Whereas obstetric fistula disproportionately affects women in 

sub-Saharan Africa and Asia and girls, some as young as 

13 years old, who are subjected to child marriage and 

whose bodies are not fully capable of handling the demands of childbirth; 

Whereas obstetric fistula, which usually results in fetal death 

by asphyxia, occurs when the tissues that normally separate a woman’s vagina from her bladder or rectum are 

destroyed by lack of oxygenated blood getting to the tissue in the pelvic floor and prolonged pressure from the 

fetal head trapped in the birth canal; 

Whereas obstetric fistula typically occurs due to a breakdown 

in health systems, namely when a woman does not have 

access to high-quality, comprehensive health services, 

emergency obstetric care or because she does not have 

the financial means, transportation, or access to surgical 

repair; 

Whereas left untreated, an obstetric fistula afflicts a woman 

with devastating physical conditions, including incontinence, painful ulcers, and constant and uncontrollable 

emission of offensive odors; 


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•HRES 747 IH 

Whereas these symptoms leave a woman indelibly and perpetually stigmatized by her condition; 

Whereas because obstetric fistula does not heal on its own, 

women affected by this condition are marginalized for the 

remainder of their lives; 

Whereas expelled from their communities and denied education and health care, obstetric fistula victims are left 

in desperate economic circumstances; 

Whereas victims also suffer social ostracism that results in 

involuntary divorce, exclusion from religious activities, 

deepening poverty, malnutrition, deteriorating physical 

health, depression, and despair; 

Whereas, as a result, victims are left defenseless and vulnerable; 

Whereas this social isolation compounds already existing 

problems such as illiteracy and lack of economic opportunities; 

Whereas because obstetric fistulas are not themselves fatal, 

millions of women live with this horrific condition and 

have been overlooked by the international medical community; 

Whereas obstetric fistula can be prevented when health systems function as they should, namely, women and their 

families are educated about the birthing process and are 

provided access to emergency obstetric care; 

Whereas today, doctors can surgically repair obstetric fistula 

with a low-cost, low-technology surgery; 

Whereas the impact of an obstetric fistula-repair surgery is 

immediate and consequential; 


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•HRES 747 IH 

Whereas women can be reintegrated into society and are afforded basic human necessities such as familial relationships, health care, and the opportunity to earn a living; 

Whereas the prevention, treatment, and ultimately the eradication of obstetric fistula will advance the emancipation 

and empowerment of women, strengthen families and 

communities, and improve the overall economic, educational, and social well-being of affected societies; 

Whereas basic interventions to identify and repair obstetric 

fistula have achieved meaningful and cost-effective results; and 

Whereas the nature of obstetric fistula, and the fact that it 

affects vulnerable women in poor and isolated communities which offer little or no access to obstetric care, demands a comprehensive, coordinated, long-term, international response focused on the prevention and treatment of obstetric fistula: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports 

2 the goals and ideals of the ‘‘International Day to End Ob3 stetric Fistula’’ to significantly raise awareness and inten4 sify actions towards ending obstetric fistula. 

Æ 


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