Helen Wall's Contact Details

Helen Wall's Company Details

Worldwide Fistula Fund

Schaumburg Township, Illinois, United States • 1 - 10 Employees
Hospital & Health Care

Founded in 1995, the Worldwide Fistula Fund is a non profit organization that provides comprehensive fistula repair surgery, rehabilitation, survivor support , literacy and vocational skills programs for women suffering from fistula. We also train OB-GYNs in prevention and provide specialty training to increase access to and build capacity for quality obstetric care in Africa. Obstetric fistula is a devastating childbirth injury caused by prolonged, obstructed labor. Prolonged pressure from the baby crushes a mother's soft tissues against her pelvic bones and destroys it, leaving a hole. A woman with obstetric fistula leaks urine or feces uncontrollably. The baby dies in most cases. The injured woman is often rejected by her husband, shunned by her community and lives in isolation. Two million women currently suffer from obstetric fistula, mostly in developing nations where access to quality obstetric care is limited. WFF is currently active in programs in Ethiopia, Uganda and Niger, developing an integrated physical and occupational therapy program, and continuing research on obstetric fistula. In February 2012, WFF opened a new fistula hospital in Danja, Niger, which has provided over 500 free surgeries.