As the world continues its commitment to ending obstetric fistula, Amref Health Africa in Tanzania (Amref Tanzania), this year, proudly marks a remarkable milestone: 20 years of dedicated service to eradicating a childbirth injury that continues to rob thousands of African women of their dignity, health, and social standing.
Under the theme “Her Health, Her Right: Shaping a Future Without Fistula,” Amref commemorates two decades of strategic collaboration with the Government of Tanzania and key partners, working to address this preventable and treatable condition, restoring hope, transforming lives across the country and advancing women’s rights across the country.
Obstetric fistula, caused by prolonged and obstructed labour without timely access to emergency obstetric care, remains a critical public health issue in Tanzania. The impact extends beyond physical trauma, leaving survivors with chronic incontinence, psychological scars, social stigma, and loss of livelihood. For many, access to effective care and reintegration support remains severely limited, particularly for women in remote and underserved areas.
Amref Tanzania’s 20-Year Legacy of Impact and Empowerment
Amref Tanzania has been at the forefront of nationwide response, working closely with the Ministry of Health, the President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), and strategic partners such as Comprehensive Community-Based Rehabilitation (CCBRT), Bugando Medical Centre (BMC), and Magu Poverty Focus on Older People Rehabilitation Centre (MAPERECE). Together, they have made significant progress in reaching affected communities, raising awareness, and delivering comprehensive fistula care over the years.
Over the past 20 years, Amref Tanzania has:
- Mobilised over 606,063 community members in Geita and Mwanza through outreach campaigns on fistula prevention and women’s health rights.
- Covered treatment costs for 12,787 women with Obstetric Fistula (OF) to access life-restoring services.
- Trained 499 Fistula Ambassadors, as advocates and educators in their own communities.
- Provided psychosocial support to 286 women, addressing the mental and emotional challenges alongside physical healing.
- Facilitated livelihood support for 286 women, ensuring their full social and economic reintegration.
- Provided grants to 9 women’s groups, promoting income generation and enhancing financial resilience.
- Equipped 41 regional and district hospitals with medical equipment, enhancing the capacity for quality fistula treatment.
- Trained 199 healthcare professionals, including 75 doctors and 124 nurses, in fistula diagnosis, treatment, and post-operative care.
These efforts are part of Amref Tanzania’s broader mission to strengthen health systems and empower communities across the country. Through its Community Health System Strengthening (C-HSS) approach, Amref continues to build local capacity by training community health workers, expanding access to primary health care, and ensuring communities are active participants in decisions regarding their health.
Empowering Women, Changing Lives
Women’s empowerment is a central focus of these efforts from supporting girls’ education to promoting reproductive health rights and creating economic opportunities for women, especially those recovering from fistula and other reproductive health challenges.
Dr Florence Temu, Country Director for Amref Tanzania, emphasised the importance of this integrated approach in achieving lasting impact. “Obstetric fistula is not just a health issue; it’s a matter of human rights and dignity. For 20 years, Amref has stood with Tanzanian women not only in healing their bodies but in restoring their hope and purpose. Together, we have built a movement that brings fistula out of the shadows and gives women back their voices,” she said.
Shaping the Future: A Tanzania Free from Fistula
Despite these significant achievements, the work is far from finished. Many women continue to live with fistula in silence due to stigma, poverty, and lack of accessible services. Amref and its partners are calling for sustained investment in maternal health infrastructure, public education, and community-led solutions to ensure the complete elimination of fistula. As Tanzania moves towards universal health coverage and the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals, Amref’s 20-year legacy offers a proven, community-centered model that prioritises dignity, equity, and resilience for all.
On this year’s International Fistula Day, Amref Tanzania’s message remains clear: the fight to end fistula is far from over but with unity, continued investment, and empowered communities, a future without fistula is within reach. Click here to watch the webinar hosted on the fistula day.
Amref Tanzania is committed to supporting global and national efforts to end obstetric fistula and restore smiles to the faces of survivors. The Amref Fistula programme is a partnership between Amref UK, Amref Tanzania, MAPERECE, CCBRT, and Bugando Medical Centre.