The ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC), in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), commemorated the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The event also served as a platform to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Obstetric fistula, a debilitating childbirth injury affecting an estimated two million women globally, continues to impact tens of thousands in West Africa. Each year, approximately 100,000 new cases are reported, largely in low-resource settings.
The dual celebration underlined ECOWAS’s long-standing commitment to women’s health and rights, particularly in addressing obstetric fistula through a comprehensive care strategy involving medical treatment, psychological support, and socio-economic reintegration.
Speaking at the event, representatives from ECOWAS and UNFPA reaffirmed their dedication to eliminating obstetric fistula as a public health issue in the region. Stakeholders emphasized the need to place maternal health issues higher on the global health agenda, especially in light of the ongoing efforts to build more resilient health systems.
Since 2010, ECOWAS—through the EGDC—has led a large-scale regional programme to provide medical care and financial assistance to women and girls affected by obstetric fistula across its Member States. The initiative has become a cornerstone in ECOWAS’s broader mission to promote gender equality and safeguard reproductive health rights in West Africa.
