Eight Fistula cases repaired to kick start 100 in 100 Initiative

Accra, July 13, GNA – To kick start the
Initiative of repairing 100 obstetric fistula cases in 100 day, 100 in 100
Initiative, eight cases have been repaired at the Mercy Women’s Clinic in
Mankessim, in the Central Region.

The eight cases were selected from the
Mfantseman District after carefully recruited and registered for the surgery.
Though 10 patients were recruited, only eight, turned up for the surgery.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an
interview, Dr Gabriel Ganyaglo, an Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the Korle Bu
Teaching Hospital and the a member of the team of Fistula Repairers, said a
study was carried out by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in 2015, estimated that
about 1300 new cases of fistula occurred every year and yet only less than 100
cases are repaired each year.

“This means that about 1,200 cases are left
without care annually and that leaves the Ghana Health Service and its partners
such as UNFPA, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MOGCSP), and
Civil Society Organisations have very little to do”.

He explained that UNFPA together with the
National Obstetric Taskforce and the GHS launched a National Obstetric Fistula
Prevention and Management Strategy in 2017 and the 100 in 100 initiative was
part of the implementation strategy.

The objective of the initiative is to repair
100 obstetric fistula in 100 days, create awareness of obstetric fistula and
mobilise funds for fistula repairs.

He explained that the Access Bank came to
their aid and was able to mobilise GH¢250,000.00 to support surgical repairs of
about 100 women who suffer from fistula in Makessim.

It is estimated that the average cost of
fistula treatment including surgery and post-operative care, is approximately
$700, which is well beyond the reach of most women with the condition.

Dr Ganyaglo noted that MOGCSP had played a
pivotal role in mobilising the patients for the surgery and the financial
support from Access Bank had also made it a reality and this had put smiles
back on the faces of these women.

Obstetric Fistula is a distressing
complication of prolonged, obstructed labour, resulting in the leakage of urine
or faeces or both through the vagina.

The smell of the leaking urine, faeces or both
is constant and humiliating. This, if left untreated, could lead to chronic
medical problems including ulcerations and kidney diseases. 

Dr Ganyaglo advised women who suffer from
fistula conditions to report to the health facility and families who have such
patients should take them to the health facility for the necessary assistance.

“We should not hide them nor stigmatise them,
since the stigma and shame alone can kill them. They need our love and
assistance to have the fistula repaired and be integrated back into society”,
he added.

He also called on other institutions to
support the initiative financially to repair more cases and put smiles back on
their faces of victims.

GNA

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