World Fistula Day: DEVCOMS task women on medical checkup

World Fistula Day: NGO task women on medical check-ups
By Mustapha Sumaila
Fistula
Abuja, May 23, 2018 (NAN) The Development Communications Network (DevComs), an NGO, on Wednesday urged women to avail themselves with regular check-up to prevent health complications like obstetric fistula that could lead to death.
Mr Akin Jimoh, the Programme Director, DevComs, gave the advice in a statement to commemorate the World Obstetric Fistula Day in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the annual International Day to End Fistula (IDEOF) is set aside by the United Nations as a day to rally support and draw attention to activities targeting the elimination of fistula around the world.
Jimoh explained the high number of women affected with fistula was a great concern for his organisation hence the need for women to pay serious attention to their health and well being.
He said that about 500,000 Nigerian women are living with obstetric fistula in the country.
“As Nigeria commemorates the World Fistula Day today, there is a need for collective action to get appropriate treatment to avoid the needless debilitating conditions and death that could result from pregnancy and childbirth complications in the country.
“We need to end obstetric fistula in Nigeria by addressing all factors, from poverty to early child bearing that predisposes women, especially the girl-child to this debilitating condition.
“Most fistulas are as a result of difficult childbirth and obstructed labour lasting more than 24 hours and Nigeria records no fewer than 12,000 new cases of fistula annually as a result of complications in childbirth,’’ he said.
Jimoh disclosed that based on a report released by UNFPA, each year some 50,000 to 100,000 women sustain an obstetric fistula in the act of trying to bring forth new life.
According to him, it is the most devastating of all pregnancy-related disabilities and Nigeria accounts for 40 per cent of fistula cases worldwide.
He stated that base on report of Nigerian National Strategic Framework, 2008, about 6,000 fistula repairs were performed every year in Nigeria, but more than 148,000 women were on the waiting list for surgery.
He added that currently, there were about half a million women in Nigeria suffering from Vesico Vagina Fistula (VVF), base on report by the Ministry of Health.
The director urged governments at all levels to increase the funding allocated to the health sector to address challenges facing women and children.
He said that all tiers of government must give special attention to health sector and implement provisions of various policies to address the needs of vulnerable like women and children in the country.
DevComs is a global leader and one-stop shop in strategic communication, innovative programming for development information, advocacy, health promotion, community action for social change and sustainable human development. (NAN)
MS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola