Experts at a meeting today stressed inclusive efforts of the government and non- government organisations concerned in identifying obstetric fistula patients to bring them under cost-free treatment facilities.
They opined this at the advocacy meeting on fistula patients identification organised by Divisional Director (Health) Office at Begum Rokeya auditorium of RDRS Bangladesh in Rangpur on Sunday. LAMB Hospital at Parbatipur extended technical support in arranging the event under the UNFPA Bangladesh funded Elimination of Genital Fistula by Capturing, Treating, Rehabilitating and Reintegrating in Bangladesh (FRRei) project. Officials and experts of the Health Department, Department of Family Planning, Department of Social Services (DSS), Department of Women Affairs, Department of Youth Development (DYD), Department of Education and journalists participated.
With Acting Divisional Director (Health) Dr Abu Md Zakirul Islam in the chair, Divisional Director of the DSS Md Abdul Motaleb attended the event as the chief guest.
Additional Divisional Director of the DSS Md Mossarraf Hossain and Deputy Director of the Department of Family Planning for Rangpur Dr Sheikh Md Saidul Islam were present as special guests. Acting Project Manager of the FRRei project of LAMB Hospital Mahatab Liton moderated the event.
Deputy Project Manager of the FRRei project Dr Tahrima Hossain presented a keynote paper on 'End obstetric fistula in Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions: Achievements and challenges' giving a summary of the present fistula situation and fistula elimination activities as a resource person. She discussed the causes behind the intolerable but preventable disease, available cost-free treatment facilities and ongoing activities for rehabilitation of obstetric fistula patients in Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions.
She discussed the services being provided to fistula patients by LAMB Hospital, different medical college hospitals, district and upazila level hospitals, union level health service providing facilities in identifying and referral of fistula patients for treatments.
Assistant Director of the DYD for Rangpur Md. Abdur Rouf Shah, Assistant Director of the DSS for Nilphamari Nushrat Fatema, Senior Reporter of BSS Md Mamun Islam participated in the open discussion.
Dr Sheikh Md Saidul Islam put emphasis on creating social awareness to stop child marriage, child pregnancy and ensure safe instructional deliveries of pregnant mothers and quality and safe surgeries to eliminate obstetric fistula.
Mossarraf Hossain said comprehensive efforts of all government and non-government organisations concerned are needed to identify obstetric fistula patients for bringing them under cost-free treatment facilities and rehabilitation programmes.
The chief guest suggested involving the beneficiary women of the government's massive social safety-net programmes in identifying obstetric fistula patients to bring them under treatment and rehabilitation programmes.
Dr Abu Md Zakirul Islam stressed on eliminating obstetric fistula, a devastating injury in which an abnormal opening forms between a woman's bladder and vagina, resulting in urinary incontinence, chronic health complexities, depression and social isolation.
