71,000 women suffer from fistula for lack of awareness

Prof Md Abul Faiz speaks at an experience sharing meeting on Obstetric Fistula at IDB Bhaban in the city yesterday. On his left is Dr SM Abul Khair Miah.Photo: STAR

Speakers at an experience-sharing meeting yesterday said an estimated 71,000 women have been suffering from fistula, a preventable and treatable disease, only for lack of awareness in the society.
Some 1.69 women suffer from fistula per thousand mostly due to prolonged obstructed labour and early marriage as well as pregnancy, they added.
They said lack of skilled care during pregnancy, delivery and post-natal period, lack of awareness regarding the danger signs of pregnancy and childbirth are the contributing factors of fistula.
At the meeting organised by EngenderHealth Bangladesh at the IDB conference room in the city, the speakers further said that fistula is a preventable disease and it is also treatable through surgical repair procedures.
Experts said when a woman suffers from fistula, she faces urinary incontinence, faecal incontinence, complex urological injury, vaginal scarring and stenosis, secondary infertility and chronic skin irritation physically. At the same time, she becomes a victim of stigmatisation, isolation, divorce or separation in this patriarchal and illiterate society.
“Safe childbirth is a basic reproductive right of women and obstetric fistula is a vivid example of violation of basic reproductive right,” said Prof Sayeba Akhter of the department of Gynae and Obstetrics at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).
Presenting a keynote paper, she also highlighted different programmes taken by the government and non-government organisations and challenges of reducing the disease.
The speakers pointed out that there is no national strategic vision of the government regarding the disease as well as insignificant number of skilled surgeons, poor health system and lack of community awareness.
They stressed the need for creating a linkage between family planning services, emergency obstetric care and fistula services. Coverage of fistula prevention treatment and rehabilitation services also needs to be expanded.
Speaking as the chief guest, DGHS director general said the country needs to fix a target on how much we can achieve in reducing fistula by 2020. At the same time, identification of the fistula cases, societal motivation and rehabilitation of fistula patients are also important.
Dr AJ Faisel and Dr SM Shahidullah of EngenderHealth, Dr Sukumar Sarker of USAID, Dr Quazi Shahadat Hossain and Dr SM Abul Khayer Miah of DGHS also spoke.
Lisa Giesler of Memorial Christian Hospital, Dr Dulal Chandra Podder of Kumudini Hospital and Dr Hosneara of LAMB Hospital presented papers on fistula services in these hospitals.