Home ›› 22 Sep 2021 ›› Nation
Experts at a meeting on Tuesday stressed on ensuring institutional delivery of pregnant mothers alongside antenatal and postnatal supervision to eliminate obstetric fistula to attain the sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030.
They viewed this at the ‘Divisional Meeting on Fistula in Rangpur Division’ organised virtually by LAMB Hospital, based at Parbotipur in Dinajpur district, with assistance of the Department of Health Services and the UNFPA Bangladesh.
Rangpur Divisional Director (Health) Dr Md Motaharul Islam as the chief guest virtually attended the event moderated by Acting Project Manager of the Fistula Elimination Project of LMAB Hospital Mahatab Liton.
Divisional Deputy Director (Health), Divisional Assistant Director (Health), Civil Surgeons, Deputy Civil Surgeons, Superintends of different district hospitals, Gynecologists, NGO executives and journalists participated in the event virtually.
Deputy Project Manager of the 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 way-outs as a resource person.
Technical Officer of UNFPA Bangladesh Dr Animesh Biswas presented another paper on ‘Obstetric fistula in Bangladesh- Progress and highlights’ narrating the fistula situation and ongoing fistula elimination activities in the country as another resource person.
The resources persons discussed the causes behind the intolerable but preventable disease, available treatment facilities and rehabilitation of fistula patients.
They cited statistics of the identified fistula patients, numbers of operated and rehabilitated fistula patients at the divisional and national levels.
They put emphasis on creating social awareness to inspire people for availing the institutional facilities for safe delivery and stop the social curse of child marriage which is one of the major causes for developing obstetric fistula during delivery.
They 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.
The chief guest put importance 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.
“Institutional delivery, stopping child marriage, identification of fistula patients, counseling for their proper treatments, quality and safe surgeries and rehabilitation are crucial to free the country from fistula and attain SDGs by 2030,” he said.
