150,000 Nigerian women suffer from obstertric fistula,says United Nations

The United Nations (UN) has established that, an estimated 150,000 women and girls are afflicted by Obstertric Fistula, an ailment regarded as one of the most serious and tragic childbirth injuries

Penpushing reports that, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Edward Kallon made this known in a statement on the occasion of commemorating International Day to end Obstetric Fistula.

The Coordinator who disclosed the United Nations(UN) move to fight the menace, pointed out that, this pregnancy-related disability is now unheard of in developed nations, yet 2 million women in the developing world are affected by this life shattering condition.

‘In Nigeria, an estimated 150,000 women and girls are afflicted by this debilitating condition, while 13,000 new cases are added annually. The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to cause an increase in instances of fistula due to the pressure on the health system, decreased access to family planning, and a rise in child marriages’, he said

‘Each year, another ~100,000 women will suffer from obstetric fistula. Nigeria accounts for 40% of all fistula cases globally. Consequently, many Nigerian women and girls are needlessly enduring pain and ostracisation in 2021. We wish to let them know that that they are not suffering in obscurity nor in perpetuity’, Kallon addded.

Penpushing further reports that, he noted that the ailment is a  hole between the birth canal and bladder and/or rectum  caused by prolonged obstructed labour without access to timely, high-quality medical treatment, adding that it leaves women permanently incontinent, and often leads to chronic medical problems, depression, and deepening poverty

The United Nations boss pointed out that, the social consequences are as devastating as the physical ones because women are often abandoned by their husbands and shunned by their communities.

‘The good news is that obstetric fistula is both preventable and treatable in nearly all cases. Patients with uncomplicated fistula can undergo a simple surgery that costs $600 per patient. The UNFPA has ably led the global campaign to End Fistula, helping to conduct 121,000 surgeries in 55 countries since 2003, transforming the lives of so many women and girls’, he added.

Penpushing also reports that, Kallon, however, observed that, the current scale of response is not commensurate with the burden of suffering across Nigeria , and  need to scale up and scale up fast, adding that, less than 2,000 surgical repairs are performed annually, leaving a huge backlog in untreated fistula that will take decades to clear at the current rate.

‘Prevention is key to ending fistula. Promoting universal access to quality care is essential to prevention of fistula. Each new case should and can be prevented when women get timely high-quality maternity care, including skilled birth attendance, midwifery care and emergency obstetric care’, he stated.

‘Eliminating fistula is a key element of “leaving no-one behind” and the world risks failing to achieve the SDG targets if there is still a woman or girl left in the world who is suffering from fistula and being neglected. In Nigeria, the UN System’s key goal is to support the Government of Nigeria to implement the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs’

Penpushing further reports that, Kallon said the United Nations(UN) will also support the government’s Obstetric Fistula Strategic Plan for 2019-2023 which outlines a vision of a fistula free Nigeria. Let’s work together to make that vision a reality.

The coordinator called  on all Nigerians and all stakeholders in society to consider the plight of women and girls affected by obstetric fistula, stressing need  to reaffirm  commitment to ending this dreadful condition and to redouble efforts.

‘We need to strengthen health systems and maternal medical care, promote women’s rights, empower women and girls with autonomy in their decision-making, increase availability and affordability of fistula treatment, and increase fund allocation, particularly for obstetric fistula prevention, treatment and reintegration services. Let’s provide hope, healing and dignity for all. The time to act is now’, Kallon emphasised.

‘Women need to be fully empowered to make their own decisions about sexual and reproductive health and about contraception. The denial of bodily autonomy is not just a violation of women and girls’ fundamental human rights, but studies show that where women’s decision-making is constrained, higher levels of morbidity (such as obstetric fistula) and mortality result’, he added

Penpushing reports that, the theme for this year is “Women’s rights are human rights! End fistula now!” Fistula is not just a health issue – it is a women’s rights issue. A woman’s right to decide if and when she has children is vital to achieving equality for women and girls

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