Since its opening late last year, the new obstetric fistula pre-repair center in Sekota, Ethiopia, has:

• Screened 44 women for obstetric fistula and admitted 22 of them for pre-repair care
• Trained over 100 health workers, including health extension workers, nurses, midwives, health officers, doctors, supervisors, and managers how to prevent obstetric fistula and how to diagnose and refer women with the condition for appropriate care
• Trained more than 300 volunteers on effective ways to talk to community members about the causes and symptoms of obstetric fistula and where to send women for care
• Educated over 3,300 people about obstetric fistula at community events.

The Sekota center is IntraHealth’s fourth pre-repair center. It offers women in East Amhara access to fistula surgeries at the Mekele Hamlin Fistula Center in the Tigray region. IntraHealth also supports pre-repair centers in Adet, Dangla, and Woreta in West Amhara, which refer women to Bahir Dar Hamlin Fistula Hospital for surgery.

These centers are all staffed by nurses or midwives who screen women for fistula and provide women who are eligible for surgery with transport and referrals to the fistula hospital. The pre-repair centers focus on preparing women for surgery by providing basic rehabilitative care including treatment for malnutrition and anemia, HIV and family planning counseling, and referrals for other health services. The center staff also helps women transition back into their communities after surgery.

IntraHealth is an implementing partner on the USAID-funded Fistula Care Project, which is led by EngenderHealth.