FG, ECOWAS Begin Needs Assessment For Obstetric Fistula Patients
The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Gender Development Centre (EGDC), on Monday embarked on a needs assessment visit to Katsina State to support obstetric fistula patients.
On arrival in the state capital, the team visited the State Ministry of Women Affairs and Health, where the team was received by the permanent secretaries of the ministries, Dr Nura Banye and Dr Ahmad Tijjani respectively.
According to the team, a three-day workshop tagged: #EndFistulaNow in Nigeria, will be conducted first which seeks to create awareness about the causes and consequences of obstetric fistula, provide medical care, and offer financial support to affected women and girls in the state.
The focal person for the project, Ilyasu Zubair, expressed optimism that the initiative which focuses on advocating for stronger national health policies will provide much-needed relief for women suffering from the health condition while strengthening healthcare services in Nigeria.
Zubair, however, described issues of Obstetric Fistula in Nigeria as a great health concern, stating that over 500 women are targeted in Katsina.
“In fact, we are targeting the entire population of the country, particularly the northern region. Every stakeholder is targeted including government officials, traditional and religious leaders, market women, youth groups, youth corps members, and security agencies.
“Despite the huge resources and investment by the Federal and subregional governments, the high prevalence of the disease persists. The major causes of Obstetric Fistula are prolonged labour and lack of access to quality health facilities, issues of poverty, and education among other several factors.
“There is a need for high awareness creation and high sensitization of the public on the causes of the condition on how to prevent it,” he stressed.
