ZCZC
BSS-26
FISTULA-DISEASE-WOMEN TWO LAST DHAKA (UNICEF FEATURE)
Prof Dr Abul Kalam Azad, Director General of Directorate General of Health
Services (DGHS) said, “There is no accurate figure of fistula disease in the
country and roughly the number of fistula patients is between 70,000 and
2,00,000.”
A total of 10 fistula centres have been set up at different public medical
colleges, aiming to cure fistula patients through surgery, he said adding
more fistula centres would be set up to provide treatment facilities to the
fistula patients.
He said, “Obstetric fistula is one of the most serious and tragic
childbirth injuries. It is a hole between the birth canal and bladder or
rectum caused by prolonged, obstructed labour, without access to timely and
high-quality medical treatment. It leaves women leaking urine, feces or both,
and often leads to chronic medical problems, depression, social isolation, he
added.
In case of obstructed labour, the fetal head gets arrested in the birth
canal for 12 hours or long, he said, adding the fetal head adds pressure on
the thin soft wall of vagina against pelvic bones and prolonged pressure
destroys the vaginal wall and holes get generated.
Pregnant women are affected by fistula disease when they suffer delivery
complications for 12 hours and more, he added.
Trend of fistula disease has significantly declined with increasing
facility delivery across the country, Prof Azad said adding, “It is a curable
disease and we will provide all necessary treatment facilities as well as
create awareness to prevent fistula disease across the country.
BSS/UNICEF FEATURE/MMR/ARS/1717 hrs