The Director in charge of Family Health at Nigeria’s health ministry, Dr. Adebimpe Adebiyi, has revealed that Obstetric Fistula is a serious and prevalent reproductive health challenge for women in the developing world and Nigeria bore about 40% of the global burden.
According to her, the elimination of the scourge from Nigeria would further improve the health and developmental indices as the country strived toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
She said this in Abuja while speaking at the inauguration of the Inter- Ministerial Committee on the establishment of the National Obstetric Fistula Centres in Nigeria towards ensuring the reduction of Obstetric Fistula cases.
Inaugurating the Committee, the Minister of Health, noted ‘’ the attainment of Universal Health Coverage would facilitate Care Accessibility ,Affordable and Quality Health Care Services where no one is denied care as long as he or she remains legal resident in Nigeria.
Prof. Adewole further said that “the prevention and treatment of obstetric fistula is a priority of the Federal Government. Consequently, the establishment of more Obstetric Fistula Centres demonstrate government’s commitment to the improvement of the maternal and reproductive health indices.
“Evidences abound that prevention is key; therefore, Government is working relentlessly to ensure availability of functional Primary HealthCare centres, skilled birth attendants, the supply of essential maternal Health commodities for the provision of quality antenatal care, safe delivery and postnatal care for women and children.”
To this effect, government has designated three facilities located in Kaduna, Bauchi and Ebonyi States as National Obstetric Fistula centres for prevention, treatment, training and research.
According to the minister, the National Centres will provide technical backstopping as well as act as referral centres to the several health facilities where fistula cases were diagnosed in the six Geopolitical Zones.
New centres would be located in Adamawa, Edo, Niger, Osun and Oyo states; with Oyo State site serving as a Regional centre.
He urged the Committee to come up with recommendations, strategies, interventions and roll- out plans for the establishment of the centres in addition to facilitating funding for the projects.
Responding, the Permanent Secretary at the health ministry, who is also the Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee, Mr. Abdulaziz Mashi Abudullahi, assured that the Committee would do its best in achieving the terms of reference and duly submit its report on time. He also pledged that Members would work assiduously to deliver on their assignment.