Fistula Fortnight starts in Nigeria: 46 women treated for Obstetric Fistula on first day

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 23 Feb 2005 - 7:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

Hundreds more to be treated over two weeks

As 'Fistula Fortnight', the largest surgical effort to treat women living with obstetric fistula over a two-week period, opened in Nigeria, 46 women were treated on the first day. A team of four volunteer doctors from the United |Kingdom and the United States are partnering with a a team of 24 Nigerian expert fistula surgeons and trainee doctors to treat hundreds of women living with fistula in the northern states of the country.

The 'Fistula fortnight' is part of a global Campaign to End Fistula, launched by UNFPA and partners in 2003. The Campaign is active in more than 30 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and the Arab states.

This two-week pilot project is the result of a unique partnership among UNFPA, Federal and State governments of Nigeria, Virgin Unite, the Nigerian Red Cross, Voluntary Service Overseas, health professionals and local non-governmental organisations.

Nigeria may have one of the highest rates of fistula in the world. It is estimated that as many as 800,000 women could be living with fistula in the country, with another 20,000 new cases each year. The teams of international and national doctors will be divided among four different hospitals in the northern states of Nigeria during the fortnight to perform surgery and advance their skills in fistula repair. Specially trained nurses and social workers will provide essential post-operative care and counselling to ensure full recovery of patients after surgery.

"We hope that the 'Fistula Fortnight' will help to heal wounds and renew hope for hundreds of women suffering from fistula in Nigeria," said Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. "It is one step to help address the tremendous backlog of patients and get care to those in need."

Obstetric fistula is a preventable childbirth injury that results in chronic incontinence and leaves women stigmatised. Without treatment, they become social outcasts. It occurs when a woman endures obstructed labour for days on end without medical intervention - typically a Caesarean section - to relieve it. In nearly all cases, the baby dies. Reconstructive surgery can mend the fistula, but most women cannot access or afford medical treatment.

"Fistula is both preventable and treatable, yet millions of women still suffer from this tragic condition. Fistula is not an easy subject to talk about but let's start talking openly and try and put an end - together - to this needless suffering," said Sir Richard Branson, Chairman of the Virgin Group of Companies, a key partner in the 'Fistula Fortnight'.

Obstetric fistula tends to be common in countries with high maternal mortality rates. In Nigeria, a woman has a 1 in 18 lifetime risk of dying from complications of childbirth - a stark contrast to Europe,

where the figure is 1 in 2,400.

"I join you in encouraging all stakeholders - the Government, development partners, faith-based organisations, non-governmental organisations, traditional and religious leaders - to redouble the efforts to solve the problem of fistula in Nigeria," said Mrs Rita Akpan, Nigerian Minister of Women Affairs, speaking at the launch event today at Babba Ruga Fistula Hospital, in Katsina State.

Long-term benefits of the Fortnight project include: more trained Nigerian doctors, nurses and social workers capable of treating fistula patients; better equipped hospitals in four northern states where the problem is most severe; and increased awareness about fistula in rural communities, to help spread the word that treatment is available.

For more on the 'Fistula Fortnight' and the global campaign, visit http://org

A full press skit on the Fortnight is available online for journalists.

UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is the world's largest multilateral source of population assistance. Making motherhood safer for all women is at the heart of the 'Fistula Fortnight' and the global Campaign to End Fistula.

For more information, please contact
Kristin Hetle + 1 (212) 297 5020. hetle@unfpa.org
Abubakar Dungus +1 (212) 297 5031, dungus@unfpa.org

LONDON PRESS CONFERENCE

A UNFPA international press conference to highlight the global problem of obstetric fistula will take place at the Foreign Press Association, 11 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AJ, on 9 March, starting at 11.00 am (coffee and registration from 10.30).

Speakers include UNFPA experts, and members of the volunteer team of doctors who will have participated in UNFPA's 'fistula fortnight' - a two-week demonstration and training scheme being run in northern Nigeria and intended to draw world attention to the problem. It is hoped that Natalie Imbruglia, celebrity spokesperson for the Campaign to End Fistula, will also participate in the press conference.

RSVP to
Peter Robbs
News Media and Editorial
Consultants to UNFPA
T: +44 1480 465328
F: +44 1480 492724
E: peter.robbs@ukonline.co.uk

• Additional
• References
• Citations