They said though fistula is preventable and treatable a huge number of women are suffering from the disease and leading an inhuman life.

The project start up workshop on 'Establishment of National Fistula Centre and Skilled Birth Attendants (SBAs) Training Institute' was held

at a city hotel.

Speaking as chief guest Health Adviser Maj Gen (retd) ASM Matiur Rahman said the government has been trying continuously to create an atmosphere where people would have the opportunity to reach and maintain the highest attainable level of health.

"A serious challenge to government efforts is to improve the health of women, newborns and children," he added.

The adviser said the government has adopted the health, nutrition and population sector programme (HNPSP) to provide quality and affordable reproductive health services, including family planning to attain Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

"The males can play a key role in all development activities related to maternal health services in a society where they hold higher social status and decision making power," he added.

As a special guest, Director General of DGHS Shahjahan Biswas said the main reason of fistula is obstetric labour, which can be prevented through skilled birth attendants and access to emergency obstetric care facilities.

" Obstetric fistulas can also be treated with reconstructive surgery. If done properly, the surgery has a 95 percent success rate at a very nominal cost," he added.

The National Fistula Centre (NFC) will be set up at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) while the Skilled Birth Attendants (SBAs) Training Institute in Comilla.

Islamic Development Bank (IDB) will provide US$ 3000000, while UNFPA will provide US $ 300000 and the government will give another US $ 300000 for the establishment of NFC and SBAs Training Institute.

With Additional Secretary to health ministry Jamil Osman in the chair, the inaugural session was also attended by UNFPA representative Arthur Erken and Healthcare Support Specialist of IDB Hisham A Fakha.

Representatives from different ministries, and directors and professors of different medical colleges and hospitals including UN agencies and development partners took part in the workshop.