Obstetric fistula is a severe childbirth injury caused when prolonged pressure from the fetus during childbirth causes a hole to form between the mother's vagina and her bladder or rectum, leading to incontinence of urine or faeces, or both. This injury robs women of their dignity and leads to deep suffering and social stigma.
The current surgical approach to fistula requires refinement. By simplifying the surgery and improving outcomes we can provide access to thousands more women every year.
Our mission is to revolutionise the surgical treatment of obstetric fistula by developing an advanced tissue-engineered solution designed to effectively repair obstetric fistulas while considering the unique societal, political, and healthcare contexts in which these women live.
Currently, an estimated 2 million to 3.5 million women globally suffer from obstetric fistula. In Sub-Saharan Africa, up to 130,000 women develop fistulas each year, with their struggle worsened by factors like poverty, early marriage, and inadequate healthcare. Beyond the physical pain, the social shame can lead to isolation, mental health issues, and hindered personal growth. POWER is committed to turning this tide by advancing surgical solutions and breaking down the barriers to effective treatment, offering hope, and restoring dignity to these women.
Ideally, fistula should be prevented by improving maternity services. These prevention measures are dependent on enormous amounts of funding and political input. We know that in the countries they are most needed, these kinds of changes take time. POWER is working to develop a solution to those already suffering.
Currently, the treatment available is a long and intricate reconstructive surgery performed by highly trained surgeons. While surgery can restore normal function and improve quality of life, access to skilled surgeons and proper postoperative care is essential for successful surgery. In many regions, particularly in developing countries, these resources are scarce, leading to challenges in both accessing and delivering treatment.
Our goal is to generate a tissue engineered solution to successfully treat obstetric fistulas while considering societal, political and health care circumstances. POWER is harnessing the strength of its network, industry contacts and product innovators to revolutionise the surgical repair of obstetric fistulas.
POWER aims to simultaneously achieve four objectives:
1. Develop a tissue-engineered solution to successfully treat obstetric fistula globally, while addressing the unique societal, political, and healthcare realities women face.
2. Alleviating the pain of women affected by obstetric fistula through dedicated surgical care.
3. Invest in the education and skill-building of local healthcare professionals, ensuring sustainable, long-term care and support in their communities.
4. Raise community awareness; working to dismantle the stigma around obstetric fistula and spreading knowledge about its prevention and treatment options.