Today, as Sam and I were walking out of QECH to get lunch, we passed by what looked like a ceremony with a banner reading “International Day to End Obstetric Fistula.” Not knowing what obstetric fistula was, we kept on walking and had a very nice lunch. However, after I came home and opened CNN, an article about it was on the front page! Obstetric fistula is a hole between the rectum or bladder and the vagina that will constantly leak its contents. It is caused by prolonged childbirth which cuts off blood supply to tissues in that region and tissue death. And today I got to witness the first annual International Day to End Obstetric Fistula!

I think this article is a good glimpse into health problems that we are just simply unaware of here in the US.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/23/health/end-obstetric-fistula-day/index.html?hpt=hp_c3