In 2008, Boston Scientific was proud to support a mission to a remote region of Nepal to perform pelvic floor repair procedures on women with uterine prolapse, who had no other medical options available to them. Uterine prolapse affects approximately 600,000 Nepalese women of reproductive age, or one in ten – one of the highest incidences in the world. About two thirds of these women need corrective surgery, but very few have access to appropriate treatment or avoid seeking care due to embarrassment. Uterine prolapse has been identified by the World Health Organization as the #1 health concern for women in this mountainous country.

Dr. Joshi, a Nepali general surgeon, discovered that a less-invasive pelvic floor repair procedure was being performed by Dr. Roger Goldberg of the United States, using a Boston Scientific technology. Dr. Goldberg agreed to travel to Nepal to perform the surgery, receiving funding for the mission from the Women’s Heath Foundation who commissioned a documentary film to educate women in the U.S. about the less-invasive procedure.

Boston Scientific donated products to be used for the surgeries, and John Pedersen, President of Boston Scientific’s Urology and Gynecology businesses, agreed to personally join the mission to Nepal.

When the surgical team arrived in the village of Dailekh, 400 women waited in line for the medical treatment. Of the 400 women evaluated, 200 required some level of pelvic floor repair. After further examination, the surgical team performed the procedure on 50 women over the course of three days, filling the capacity of the post-operation facility.

Visit the Women’s Health Foundation website.