RANGPUR, Nov 26, 2018 (BSS) – Health experts at a seminar have stressed on
creating awareness among women to prevent vesicovaginal fistula, a
devastating injury in which an abnormal opening forms between a woman’s
bladder and vagina, resulting in urinary incontinence.
“In Bangladesh, victims of child marriage and pregnant mothers from
delivery-related complicacies mostly suffer from obstetric vesicovaginal
fistula,” said Additional Director General (Health) of the Directorate of
Health Services Professor Dr Nasima Sultana.
Dr Sultana made these observations at the inception seminar on the UNFPA-
funded “Elimination of Genital Fistula by Capturing, Treating, Rehabilitating
and Reintegrating in Bangladesh (FRRei) Project held here on Sunday as the
chief guest.
LAMB Hospital with assistant of the divisional health administration
organised the day-long seminar at Begum Rokeya auditorium of RDRS Bangladesh
in the city.
Rangpur Divisional Director (Health) Dr Amal Chandra Saha presided over
the event participated by fistula experts from home and abroad, Civil
Surgeons and physicians of the district level hospitals of all eight
districts in Rangpur division.
Citing global survey reports, Dr Sultana said one million women are
currently suffering from obstetric vesicovaginal fistula in the world where
the number is increasing by 10,000 more every year.
“In Bangladesh, 70,000 women are suffering from fistula and the number is
increasing by 2,000 annually,” she said adding that the condition is rare in
developed countries.
“Though the disease is a complete curable one, but it is spreading,
especially among women aged between 15 and 30 years, due to lack of
awareness, knowledge, ignorance and timely treatment in Bangladesh as well as
in development countries,” she added.
Dr Sultana stressed on creating social awareness to stop child marriage,
ensure four-time checkups of pregnant women at health facilities and refrain
from delivering babies through cesarean operations without necessity for
preventing fistula.
Dr Amal Chandra Saha suggested for paying due attention to female patients
suffering from obstetric vesicovaginal fistula and taking timely steps for
ensuring their proper treatments for their complete recovery to lead normal
life.