By Ahmed Ahmed
Dr. Bawa Maryam Shehu of the National Obstetric Fistula Center (NOFIC) Ningi has declared that not less than two million women are affected with obstetric fistula every year.
Shehu made the declaration during commemoration of 2023 International Day to end Fistula on Tuesday in Bauchi
She also said not less than 500 persons in Nigeria are diagnosed annually with the Fistula scourge.
According to her, the ailment is largely caused due to prolonged labor at home that exceeds more than three days and the absence of skilled birth attendants.
Dr. Maryam further said that aside the prolonged unattended labor, other causes of Fistula are genital mutilation and non attendance of antenatal care at health facility.
She said that research has shown that Fistula is not only restricted to first pregnancies alone and all pregnant women irrespective of whether it is a first delivery or not are prone to Obstetric Fistula.
“If skilled birth attendants do not attend to them at the time of delivery. She also advised that at least women should attain 18 years of age before considering conceiving,” she said
Shehu explained that last year NOFIC admitted 300 fistula patients and that out of the number, 296 of them had successfully undergone repairs and have since recuperated and joined their families.
She further said that Bauchi state is lucky because of the Fistula center that is located in the state, stressing that “on the average, we do carry out about 10 fistula repairs on patients free of charge and in most cases, such repairs are successful”.
Also speaking, Dr. Iyabo Kazim of NOFIC Ningi said Fistula patients need care and support from their spouses, their immediate families and the community at large.
Dr. Kazim said that stigmatizing patients afflicted with Fistula is significantly slowing the healing process of the patients.
She said that ailment is curable and preventable. She then called on the women to make it a habit of accessing health care services from their respective skilled service providers within their immediate communities.
Also speaking, representative of Engender Health, Mrs. Elizabeth Otodo expressed her gratitude to community leaders and other non-state actors for supporting the cause to end fistula in Bauchi State.
Speaking also a survivor of fistula ailment, Hauwa Mohammed Aliyu said that living with fistula is a herculean and depressing task which the patient alone cannot handle.
She said that, though her case is different because of the tremendous support she is getting from her husband and her family, she however lamented on the difficulty others are facing due to absence of such support.
The 30 year old Hauwa said that such difficulties are compounded due to poverty and stigma that most of the unsupported patients are facing from family members.
She advised that the Government should be supporting Fistula patients with an empowerment initiative to enable them fend for themselves in the face of neglect from their families and communities. This according to her will greatly aid their healing and subsequent reintegration into their respective communities.
In a remark, the district head of Bauchi Alhaji Nuru Adamu Jumba appreciated the organizers for creation of awareness activities and also pledged to direct his ward heads to also cascade the campaign down to their respective wards.
Jumba then called on caregivers to always allow their spouses to access health care services from skilled personnel at facilities closest to them.
