[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 447 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 447

Recognizing the horrific effects of obstetric fistulas and urging that 
     programs be initiated to prevent and treat obstetric fistulas.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 18, 2003

  Mr. Towns (for himself, Ms. Norton, Mrs. Christensen, Ms. Lee, Ms. 
   Jackson-Lee of Texas, Mr. Lantos, Mr. Waxman, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. 
 Owens, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, and Mr. Scott of Georgia) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on International Relations, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of 
                        the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the horrific effects of obstetric fistulas and urging that 
     programs be initiated to prevent and treat obstetric fistulas.

Whereas each minute a woman dies from pregnancy-related complications;
Whereas for every woman who dies from pregnancy-related complications, between 
        15 to 30 live but suffer chronic disabilities, the worst of which are 
        obstetric fistulas;
Whereas between 1,000,000 and 3,000,000 women are estimated to suffer from 
        obstetric fistulas worldwide;
Whereas obstetric fistulas usually occur in young, first-time mothers;
Whereas although currently virtually unknown in the Western World, obstetric 
        fistulas were once common in the United States and Europe before the 
        advent of widespread maternal health care and hospital births;
Whereas obstetric fistulas occur when a woman is in obstructed and prolonged 
        labor without medical help;
Whereas the prolonged pressure of the baby's head against the mother's pelvis 
        cuts off the blood supply to the soft tissues surrounding her bladder, 
        rectum, and vagina;
Whereas the prolonged and difficult labor that causes obstetric fistulas usually 
        results in the death of the baby;
Whereas if the mother survives such prolonged labor the injured tissue will rot 
        away leaving a perforation, or fistula, which causes the woman to lose 
        control of urination and bowel function;
Whereas because of a lack of understanding about the cause and treatment of 
        obstetric fistulas, women who suffer from obstetric fistulas are often 
        abandoned by their husbands, forced out of their homes, and ostracized 
        by their families;
Whereas a recent report commissioned by the United Nations Population Fund 
        (UNFPA) titled ``Obstetric Fistula Needs Assessment: Findings from Nine 
        African Countries'' details obstetric fistula occurrence in nine 
        countries in sub-Saharan Africa: Benin, Chad, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, 
        Niger, Nigeria, Uganda, and Zambia;
Whereas 35 hospitals in such countries have the capacity to conduct surgeries to 
        repair obstetric fistulas, but lack the financial resources to do so;
Whereas reconstructive surgery can end the suffering associated with obstetric 
        fistulas;
Whereas a reconstructive surgery for obstetric fistulas developed in the 1850's 
        by Dr. James Sims, a surgeon in South Carolina, has up to a 90 percent 
        success rate;
Whereas the cost of such a surgery is between $100 and $400; and
Whereas most women in developing countries are unaware of treatment options, 
        unable to access treatment, or unable to afford treatment: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the horrific effects of obstetric fistulas 
        on the lives of women who experience them as they seek to 
        become mothers; and
            (2) urges the appropriate Federal agencies to work with 
        foreign agencies and organizations to implement programs to 
        provide maternal health care, especially the prevention and 
        treatment of obstetric fistulas.
                                 <all>