By Martins Ifijeh
The Federal Ministry of Health has
directed all teaching hospitals in Nigeria to embark on fistula repairs free of
charge as part of efforts to reduce the backlog of the number of women living
with the health condition, the Country Project Manager, Fistula Care Plus,
Chief Iyeme Efem has said.
Stating this during a two day Media
Roundtable Discussion on Fistula Intervention in Lagos yesterday, he said the
directive by the federal government to the tertiary hospitals in the country
will help in increasing the number of fistula repairs from 5,000 to 12,920
every year.
According to him, “Nigeria currently
has a backlog of between 150,000 to 200,000 Nigerian women living with
obstetric fistula in the country, with 12,000 new cases added every year. This
alarming figure is still worrisome even though our organisation repairs not
less than 2000 cases yearly, in addition to the 3000 cases repaired by other
organisations in the country; totaling 5000 repairs per year.
“Assuming we have 44 teaching
hospitals, and each of them repair 15 women every month, this will amount to
660 repairs, and in one year, it would mean this government’s
directive has helped in repairing 7,920 women alone across the country,” he
said.
Analysing the arithmetic, Chief Efem
said if the 7,920 repairs are added to the 5,000 repairs done by Fistula Care
Plus and other organisation, it would mean a total of 12,920 repairs are been
done yearly, a result, he said would be a step in the right direction in
clearing backlogs and reducing the burden of new cases.
While commending the Minister of
Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole for making such a bold step, he said Fistula Care
Plus will continue to champion repairs in the country, adding that they were
presently involved in fistula interventions in 12 states, including Zamfara,
Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Kano, Bauchi, Oyo, Cross River, Osun, Yobe and Kaduna.
On his part, a Consultant
Gynaecologist, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Prof. Oladosu
Ojengbede said prolonged obstructed labor remains a common cause of obstetric
fistula, noting that any labor that goes beyond 12 hours was at risk of not
just infection, but obstetric fistula if no alternative means of childbirth is
suggested and used.
“Obstetric fistula can be prevented
if our women go for ante natal, give birth through skilled birth attendants in
hospitals, get quality health services and education, among others.”