Health 7 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda Launches Fistula Treatment Network Amidst High Injury Rates
Uganda has officially established its first Fistula Foundation Treatment Network (FFTN), a collaborative effort to address the significant challenge of obstetric fistula, affecting an estimated 74,000 women. This initiative aims to improve prevention, treatment, and reintegration for survivors. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/uganda-joins-regional-care-network-as-74-000-women-suffer-from-childbirth-injuries-5587154
Uganda has taken a significant step forward in combating obstetric fistula by launching the nation’s inaugural Fistula Foundation Treatment Network (FFTN). This new network, established at Terrewode Women’s Community Hospital in Soroti City, marks Uganda’s integration into a broader regional care system supported by the US-based Fistula Foundation.
The FFTN brings together the Ministry of Health with seven specialized treatment and outreach organizations across Uganda. Its core mission is to create a unified approach to fistula care, encompassing prevention strategies, surgical interventions, patient referral systems, and crucial post-operative social reintegration support for survivors.
Official figures underscore the pressing need for this initiative. A recent Ministry of Health report indicates that approximately 74,000 women in Uganda are currently living with fistula, and over 1,000 new cases emerge each year. This condition, often resulting from prolonged or obstructed labor, can have devastating physical, psychological, and social consequences for women.
Health officials emphasized the importance of integrating fistula treatment into routine healthcare services, moving beyond temporary outreach programs. The Ministry of Health is also focusing on prevention, addressing factors like early marriages and limited access to maternal care in rural areas, which contribute to the high incidence of childbirth injuries. Efforts are underway to train medical professionals in fistula management and surgical techniques to build capacity within national health facilities.
“Today is the beginning of a stronger and more coordinated network of care to ensure that no woman in Uganda suffers needlessly from treatable childbirth injuries,” stated Pamela Lowney, CEO of Fistula Foundation. The network model has already been successfully implemented in several other African countries, and Uganda now joins this growing list, aiming to accelerate access to life-changing care for thousands of women.