As Ghana prepares to observe the 2025 International Day to End Obstetric Fistula (IDEOF) on Friday, May 23rd, the spotlight is shifting toward the power of corporate social responsibility and strategic partnerships in combating one of the most devastating yet preventable childbirth injuries — obstetric fistula.
With this year’s national theme, “Her Health, Her Right: Shaping a Future Without Fistula in Ghana”, stakeholders across sectors — from telecommunications to banking — are uniting to provide financial, logistical, and advocacy support toward eliminating obstetric fistula (OF), a condition primarily affecting marginalized women during prolonged, obstructed labour.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), through its country representative Dr. Wilfred Ochan, emphasized that private sector involvement has become critical in driving momentum. “Ending fistula is not just a medical challenge; it’s a societal and developmental one,” Dr. Ochan said. “We are calling on banks, telecoms, and corporate bodies to go beyond their boardrooms and invest in dignity, recovery, and a future for these women.”
Under the Partnership to End Obstetric Fistula in Ghana (PEFIG), major players such as Access Bank and Fidelity Bank are already contributing to awareness campaigns and funding surgical repairs. The World Food Programme is also onboard, committing to provide nutritional support for patients undergoing treatment.
Dr. Gabriel Ganyaglo, Chair of the National Fistula Task Force, revealed that a series of free surgical repairs will be conducted from May 23rd to 31st at five teaching and regional hospitals, with an ambitious goal of restoring dignity to at least 75 women during the period. The logistics and patient outreach, he noted, have been powered largely by local media advocacy networks and corporate sponsorship.
A new wave of corporate engagement is also in motion. A high-level Corporate Breakfast Forum is slated to be launched, offering a space for business leaders to interact directly with surgeons, survivors, and advocates, sharing stories that could spark greater financial and strategic backing.
Meanwhile, the campaign is going digital. In collaboration with mobile network operators, hotlines have been set up for coordination and patient support, with SMS and social media outreach targeting hard-to-reach communities.
Additionally, awareness will be amplified through partnerships with entertainment platforms, including Ghana’s Most Beautiful, where one finalist is expected to adopt fistula advocacy as a national project to humanize the issue and drive engagement among younger demographics.
The financial goal? Over GHC 200,000 to fund surgeries, provide survivor reintegration support, and expand prevention efforts through education and improved maternal care.
Dr. Ochan was optimistic: “When we pool our resources, when the private sector steps in not just with money but with heart, we go from treating symptoms to solving problems. This is how we break the cycle.”
The IDEOF commemoration underscores that the fight against fistula is not solely a healthcare issue, but a collective societal responsibility. With cross-sector collaboration gaining traction, Ghana is paving the way for a future where no woman suffers from obstetric fistula in silence.
