Abuja, May 28, 2026 — In several quiet treatment centres across Nigeria, women who once lived in silence and stigma due to childbirth injuries are gradually regaining their health, confidence, and sense of belonging.
National Obstetric Fistula Centres (NOFICs) have become safe spaces where women affected by obstetric fistula receive surgical treatment, rehabilitation, and emotional support aimed at helping them rebuild their lives after years of exclusion.
For many survivors, these facilities represent far more than medical institutions—they offer a pathway to recovery and reintegration into society.
The centres provide free surgical repair services alongside rehabilitation programmes designed to restore dignity and improve quality of life for women suffering from childbirth-related injuries.
Through support schemes such as the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Free Fistula Programme, patients also receive psychosocial counselling, skills training, and follow-up care to support long-term recovery.
The global community marks the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula annually on May 23, a United Nations-backed observance aimed at raising awareness and driving action against a largely preventable condition.
Despite global efforts, Nigeria continues to record one of the highest burdens of obstetric fistula cases, with health estimates indicating hundreds of thousands of women currently affected and thousands of new cases recorded each year.
Medical experts attribute the persistence of the condition to gaps in maternal healthcare services, particularly in rural areas where access to emergency obstetric care remains limited.
According to specialists, no woman should develop obstetric fistula if timely and quality healthcare is available during childbirth.
Health authorities have also stressed the need to strengthen primary healthcare systems and expand access to skilled birth attendance in order to reduce preventable maternal injuries.
To address the challenge, specialised treatment centres have been established across different regions, including facilities in Ningi, Abakaliki, Katsina, and Edo State, offering free surgical interventions and rehabilitation services.
The NHIA Free Fistula Programme has further eased access to care by covering treatment costs, transportation, feeding, and post-surgery follow-up support for patients.
Health administrators describe the initiative as a major step toward improving equity in healthcare delivery and reducing financial barriers for vulnerable women.
However, experts caution that the current response still falls short of the scale required to address the backlog of untreated cases, calling for more surgeons, expanded facilities, and stronger referral systems.
For many affected women, obstetric fistula has had devastating social and emotional consequences, including isolation, stigma, and breakdown of family relationships.
Some survivors share experiences of prolonged suffering before receiving diagnosis and treatment, often after being referred to specialised centres far from their communities.
Others, after successful surgery, describe their recovery as a turning point that restored hope and a sense of normalcy.
Recent studies on fistula care in Nigeria highlight that while surgical success rates are improving, many patients continue to struggle with reintegration, emotional healing, and economic stability after discharge.
Researchers note that financial assistance provided during treatment has been helpful, but long-term support systems remain inadequate.
Health professionals emphasize that treating obstetric fistula goes beyond surgery, requiring sustained psychosocial care, empowerment programmes, and community reintegration support.
They also warn that without addressing underlying causes such as poor access to maternal healthcare, early marriage, and delays in emergency treatment, new cases will continue to emerge.
Global health advocates continue to describe obstetric fistula as a preventable condition that reflects broader gaps in maternal healthcare systems.
While Nigeria’s treatment centres and support programmes have brought relief to many women, experts stress the need for stronger prevention strategies and expanded care networks to ensure no woman is left behind.