Over 2m women still live with fistula, says UNFPA

Fistula, a preventable birth injury is estimated to still debilitate over 2 million women, with up to 100,000 new cases of fistula added every year.   This was revealed in a statement by the Executive Director of by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr Babatunde Osotimehin to mark this year’s International Fistula Day.   Fistula […]

Fistula, a preventable birth injury is estimated to still debilitate over 2 million women, with up to 100,000 new cases of fistula added every year.

 

This was revealed in a statement by the Executive Director of by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr Babatunde Osotimehin to mark this year’s International Fistula Day.

 

Fistula is curable and preventable conditions that occurs as a result of hole or tear between the birth canal and the rectum or bladder leaving a woman incontinent of urine or feces or both.

Osotimehin attributed the increase to poverty, gender inequality, early marriage and childbearing, and lack of education.

 

With this year’s theme, ‘Hope, healing and dignity for all’, wife of Ebonyi state Governor, Rachel Umahi, emphasized on need for every woman to take up the challenge of disseminating information on fistula.

 

"We must take up the job of spreading the word on fistula prevention and treatment because this ailment tampers one’s confidence which in turn leads to depression.”  

 

Stakeholders in fistula services held a rally and awareness walk from Ebonyi Government House to National Stadium, Abakaliki.

 

Enroute, Ebonyi health commissioner Umuzuruike Daniel, sensitized the populace on preventive measures needed to be taken to avoid the marginalization caused by fistula.

 

He said women with fistula are “psychologically imbalanced and ostracized in society, making it difficult for the patient to cope with their environment as they are very often isolated from the community, shunned by their family, and mostly divorced by their spouses except if treated.”

 

Furthermore, the Medical Director, National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Abakaliki, Dr Sunday Adeoye, noted that for fistula to be completely eradicated in Nigeria, all existing cases must be treated and new cases prevented.

 

Earlier on, the country program manager for the US-funded project Fistula Care Plus, Iyeme Efem, noted that fistula should not be associated with backward cultural beliefs which encourage the increase of fistula cases in Nigeria.

 

“Fistula has nothing to do with witch craft, it is entirely a result of complications in childbirth," Efem said.

 

According to him, the 12,000  cases which  occurred in 2012 increased to more than 400,000 in 2016, adding to a backlog of existing cases waiting for repair.