Beyond Surgical Repair: An Equity-Driven Continuum of Genital Fistula Care and South-South Collaboration for Women Living with Genital Fistula

This implementation case study highlights the UNFPA Pakistan and Koohi Goth Hospital (KGH) collaborative model, which transforms genital fistula care from episodic surgical intervention into an equity-driven, integrated continuum encompassing clinical excellence, prevention, community outreach, and social reintegration. Managing over 390 cases annually—70% of which stem from iatrogenic injury and 30% from obstructed labor—KGH and its satellite network achieve impressive repair success rates (80% first-attempt, 96% ultimate) alongside dedicated post-operative counseling, literacy, and vocational rehabilitation. By empowering fistula survivors as "Ambassadors" to reduce stigma and leveraging international surgical training to build capacity across the Asia-Pacific region, this South–South partnership demonstrates a scalable framework that addresses both obstetric and iatrogenic causes while restoring full dignity and citizenship to affected women.