For Immediate Release:	March 25, 2004
For More Information:	Carrie Svingen, EngenderHealth, csvingen@engenderhealth.org, 212-561-8538
Sponsor Organization:	EngenderHealth
Film to be Centerpiece of Advocacy Campaign to Raise Awareness and Support for Global Women’s Health
New York, NY – In April, 2004, New York-based production company Governess Films will produce LOVE, LABOR, LOSS, the first feature-length film on obstetric fistula intended for a U.S. broadcast. Part of a community organizing campaign, the film will be available as an advocacy and fundraising tool for the UN and NGO community as they engage in activities to mark the 10th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). The project, supported by a diverse group of agencies including the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), EngenderHealth, the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), and the Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF), will launch its website, http://www.lovelaborloss.com, on March 25. Obstetric fistula results from a prolonged obstructed labor that occurs when a baby does not easily pass through a woman’s birth canal. After several days of labor, she delivers a stillborn. Due to the extensive tissue damage resulting from the trauma of labor, she may develop a hole - or fistula - between her vagina or rectum and her bladder, leaving her permanently incontinent or unable to control her bowels. Because of the stench and disability, she will likely be abandoned by her husband and ostracized by her community. While the World Health Organization has estimated that two million women are living with the condition, experts say this number is an underestimate since it’s based on the number of women who actively seek treatment and does not include the many women living with fistula who are unable to access care. While found in other parts of the developing world, fistula is particularly common in sub-Saharan Africa where factors such as poverty, early marriage, low status of women, and lack of access to maternal health services contribute to the prevalence of the condition. The production of LOVE, LABOR, LOSS will take place during April 2004 in the West African nation of Niger, a country with great public health needs. Nigerien women have the highest fertility rate in sub-Saharan Africa (average 8 children) as well as a high maternal mortality ratio, 920 deaths per 100,000 live births. With cooperation from the government of Niger and support from NGOs working in the country, the production team will profile both fistula prevention and treatment activities in the capital of Niamey and the city of Zindar. In order to bring a Western perspective to LOVE, LABOR, LOSS, a New York social worker and stillbirth advocate will help narrate the film. An advisory committee of prominent women’s health experts and advocates – including Dr. Nafis Sadik and Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney – will help ensure the film accurately and appropriately addresses the issues surrounding fistula. “Obstetric fistula is a tragic condition that affects millions of women, yet is virtually unheard of in the west,” states Lisa Russell, Director of LOVE, LABOR, LOSS, who holds a Masters Degree in Public Health. “We plan to address this gap by using the powerful medium of film to tell the stories of these women who strive to lead lives of dignity in the midst of tragedy. At the same time, through the eyes of our American narrator, we will highlight the common bond between mothers everywhere and show how the failure of the international donor community to honor ICPD commitments hurts women across the globe.” “Fistulas are especially tragic because they often strike down young women before they have a chance to begin their adult lives or contribute to their communities,” stated Producer Carrie Svingen, “Yet, with the right resources, it is a condition that is both preventable and treatable. LOVE, LABOR, LOSS will link the prevalence of fistula to the crucial need for safe motherhood services in the developing world. We actively invite NGOs, community groups and interested individuals to use our film to motivate, educate, and advocate for continued commitment to global women’s health, a message that is more important than ever in this 10th anniversary year after ICPD.” LOVE, LABOR, LOSS will be available to the international community in late 2004. The film’s site – http://www.lovelaborloss.com – provides information about fistula, links to related programs, and guidelines on how to use the film as an organizing and fundraising tool. After its initial distribution to NGOs and community groups, the film will then be submitted to film festivals and seek a television broadcast deal. A trailer for the film will premier at a fundraising event in New York City on May 6th. Contact Info: Lisa Russell, Producer/Director, LOVE, LABOR, LOSS, lisa@lovelaborloss.com, 917-554-4126 Carrie Svingen, Producer, LOVE, LABOR, LOSS carrie@lovelaborloss.com, 646-209-0662 Sponsoring Organization: LOVE, LABOR, LOSS