Obstetric fistula is the abnormal hole that forms in the vagina caused by prolonged, obstructed labour during childbirth. Teaching hospitals and federal medical centres will be required to waive surgery charges and laboratory test fees for women who present for fistula treatment, health minister Isaac Adewole said in Ogoja, Cross River at the start of the latest pooled repair women living with the condition."This is being done in collaboration with Fistula Care Plus Project, who will take care of the provision of consumables and other necessities," she said.
The pooled effort at Ogoja General Hospital is the 16 at the centre, and the third in recent weeks as surgeons and nurses move from centres in Ilesa to Kwara and Zamfara to repair hundreds of women.
"For now we have about 16 fistula centres; we want to increase that to 36, in all the states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This means that all the tertiary hospital will have a fistula centre, Ogunmayi explained.
The ministry is collaborating with Engender Health, which implements the Fistula Care Plus, to train nurses and surgeons in fistula care.
Source:Dailytrust
