If you had asked me a few days ago what an obstetric fistula was, I'd have shrugged my shoulders and told you, "I don't know." Thanks to advances in modern medicine and in obstetric and midwifery care, fistula has been eradicated in North America for over 100 years. Although the condition has been long since forgotten here, there are at least 2 million women in Africa, Asia and the Arab region living with fistula, and some 50,000 to 100,000 new cases develop each year. These estimates are believed to be low.

As I wandered through my blog feeds this morning, looking for an inspiring health topic and considering seriously a discussion of foot injuries (thanks to Three Kid Circus, I, asshole and the lingonberry juice on my foot that I briefly thought was blood), I noticed Agatha talking about Obstetric Fistula.