10 conferences targeted for ‘Operation Healing Hope’

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A year-long initiative to engage United Methodists in an international effort to eradicate a preventable, treatable condition called obstetric fistula will focus on ten annual conferences.

“Operation Healing Hope” is funded by a grant from the United Nations Foundation and being conducted by the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS).

Several international organizations are involved in drawing attention to obstetric fistula, which affects 2-3 million women and girls. Victims are mostly young, poor and live in rural areas far from emergency health services.

In western countries where Caesarean sections are available, the condition is virtually non-existent. The last U. S. hospital devoted to care for fistula victims reportedly closed in 1895, according to the Rev. Jill Wiley, GBCS consultant for Operation Healing Hope.

Obstetric fistula is a hole in the birth canal caused by prolonged obstructed labor. After suffering for several days, mothers with small or immature pelvises deliver stillborn babies. As a result, they endure not only the grief of loss, but face chronic incontinence because of damage done to tissue during the birthing.

Victims are mostly young, poor and live in rural areas far from emergency health services.

“The constant smell of leaking urine and feces due to the injury often drives away loved ones,” Wiley explained. “Victims become social outcasts and objects of public scorn.”

An operation of little more than an hour can repair the fistula, according to Wiley. She said the operation is successful as much as 90% of the time.

“While there are as many as 100,000 new fistula victims each year, it is estimated that the international capacity to treat them is limited to 6,500,” Wiley said. “Disturbing evidence shows that obstetric fistula is clearly on the rise in areas where violent rape has been used as weapon of war, such as the Congo.”

Operation Healing Hope is partnering with the United Nation’s Population Fund (UNFPA), which has set as a goal eradication of obstetric fistula by 2015.

“Operation Healing Hope is distinctive in that it is approaching the issue from a faith-based perspective,” Wiley said.

Victims become social outcasts and objects of public scorn.

Ten annual conferences have been identified for efforts aimed at raising awareness about obstetric fistula and to generate legislative and public policy response. Wiley said the ten conferences were selected on factors such as existing partnerships with African conferences, established priorities on women and children’s issues, and global health concerns.

The ten are Central Pennsylvania, Central Texas, Eastern Pennsylvania, Greater New Jersey, New England, North Carolina, Pacific-Northwest, Peninsula-Delaware, West Ohio and Western New York.

Wiley, who is working with Linda Bales, GBCS director for the Louise and Hugh Moore Population Project, is developing promotional and informational materials about the campaign for upcoming annual conferences as well as e-newsletter capabilities and a campaign website.

In addition, Wiley said a special “Healing Hope” baby quilt kit is being developed for church needlework groups and quilt guilds as well as a 2009 advent study for youths and adults based on the award-winning documentary “A Walk to Beautiful,” which tells the stories of women living with obstetric fistula.

In 2007, the United Methodist Women reading list included a book, The Hospital by the River, about a fistula care hospital in Ethiopia. That same hospital is the setting for much of the “Walk to Beautiful” film.

For more information about Operation Healing Hope, contact: Jill Wiley at (508) 427-0081 or send e-mail to jillwiley@healhope.com.