Fighting Fistula

In Nepal, a world renowned surgeon is on a mission to end obstetric fistula. Obstetric fistula is a serious childbirth injury, caused by prolonged, obstructed labour without access to timely, high-quality medical treatment.

It leaves women and girls with a hole between the birth canal and bladder, or rectum, leading them to leak urine, faeces or both, and often leads to chronic medical problems, depression, social isolation and deepening poverty. Forced child marriage and subsequent early pregnancy is a major cause of obstetric fistula in Nepal and around the world; the pelvis of girls and teenagers is often under-developed which is when complications with obstruction can arise.

Dr Mohan Chandra Regmi is one of the world’s leading obstetric fistula surgeons, operating out of state-run Civil Service Hospital of Nepal in Kathmandu and his own clinic, BPKIHS, located in more rural Dhahran. Dr Mohan is one of just six specialised surgeons in Nepal with the ability to address serious fistula cases. He has spent the last 15 years dedicated to eradicating fistula in the country by training new surgeons, opening clinics, and advocating for women in poverty to receive state and NGO support towards reparative operations. Dr Mohan has two young daughters, Lunasha (aged 6) and Maanasha (aged 13). He says they inspire him to create a future where obstetric fistula no longer exists and young girls are empowered to make their own life choices.