RANGPUR, Dec 20, 2020 (BSS) – Experts at a workshop have stressed ensuring antenatal care (ANC) services to prevent obstetric fistula, a devastating injury in which an abnormal opening forms between a woman’s bladder and vagina, resulting in urinary incontinence.
They viewed this at the divisional workshop on the UNFPA-funded ‘End Obstetric Fistula in Rangpur Division: Annual Progress and Highlights’ held at LABM Hospital in Parbatipur upazila of Dinajpur on Saturday.
Presided over by Divisional Director (Health) Dr. Md. Ahad Ali, fistula, gynecological and urology experts, Civil Surgeons, Deputy Directors of the Department of Family Planning and superintendents of the district level hospitals of Rangpur division participated in the workshop.
Additional Director General (Admin) of the Directorate of Health Services Prof. Dr. Nasima Sultana virtually addressed the event as the chief guest.
Director (community health and development programme) at LAMB Hospital Liton Bala and Programme Analyst of UNFPA Bangladesh Md. Shamsuz Zaman delivered welcome speeches.
Divisional Director of the Department of Family Planning Shafiqul Islam, Divisional Deputy Director (Health) Dr. Abu Md. Zakirul Islam, President of Obstetrical and Gynecological Society of Bangladesh (OGSB) Prof. Dr. Sameena Chowdhury, its past President and Chairman of Fistula Task Force Sub Committee Prof. Dr. Anowara Begum, President of International Society of Obstetric Fistula Surgeons Prof. Dr. Sayeba Akhter and past President of OGBS Prof. Dr. Rowshan Ara Begum addressed as special guests.
Deputy Medical Director and Consultant (Obstetrics and Gynecology) at LAMB Hospital Dr. Beatrice Ambauen-Berger presented the keynote paper in the workshop.
The experts said victims of child marriage and pregnant mothers from delivery-related complicacies mostly suffer from obstetric fistula due to lack of awareness, knowledge, ignorance and timely treatment.
Prof. Dr. Nasima Sultana stressed creating social awareness to stop child marriage, ensure four-time checkups of pregnant women and refrain from delivering babies through cesarean operations without necessity for preventing obstetric fistula.
“All staff of the health and family planning departments should be more sincere in dealing with obstetric fistula and work for elimination of fistula from the country by increasing ANC services and bringing all such patients under treatments,” she said.
On the occasion, Civil Surgeon of Panchagarh Dr. Fazlur Rahman declared Atwari and Boda upazilas in Panchagarh district as Fistula Free.
Dr. Md. Ahad Ali suggested physicians, officials and health and family planning workers to pay due attention to female patients suffering from obstetric fistula and ensure their proper treatments for their complete recovery to lead normal life.