RANGPUR, Dec 15, 2022 (BSS) – Experts at a meeting have highly lauded UNFPA Bangladesh for extending support in eliminating obstetric fistulas from the country by the year 2030 next.

They viewed this at the ‘Divisional Meeting on End Obstetric Fistula in Bangladesh: Progress and Highlight’ organised by the Director-Health Office of Rangpur division at its conference room on Wednesday afternoon.

The Directorate General of Health Services and Lutheran Aid to Medicine in Bangladesh (LAMB) and UNFPA Bangladesh funded Elimination of Genital Fistula by Capturing, Treating, Rehabilitating and Reintegrating in Bangladesh (FRRei) project extended technical support in arranging the event.

Acting Rangpur Divisional Director (Health) Dr. Md. Habibur Rahman presided over the event.

Eight Civil Surgeons and eight District Hospital Superintendents, three Deputy Directors of the Department of Family Planning and two Deputy Directors of the Department of Women Affairs and two District Officers of Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Services (SRHR) of the division participated in the event.

Director of Community Health Development Program (CHDP) of LAMB Utpal Minj delivered a welcome speech.

Project Manager of LAMB FRRei project Mahtab Liton moderated the meeting while its Deputy Project Manager Dr. Thamina Khatun Soniya presented the progress and highlights in 2022.

Technical Officer of UNFPA Bangladesh Dr. Animesh Biswas explained the current situation of female Genital Fistula, reasons behind the curable diseased, sufferings of fistula patients and ongoing cost-free treatment facilities in Bangladesh.

Civil Surgeon of Nilphamari Dr. Md. Jahangir Kabir and Civil Surgeon of Kurigram Dr. Md. Manjur E Morshed shared their plans for eliminating obstetric fistula from their respective districts.

The speakers discussed the causes behind the intolerable but preventable disease, process of identification of fistula patients, available cost-free treatment facilities and activities for rehabilitation of obstetric fistula patients in Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions.
   
They lauded 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.
 
Dr. Habibur Rahman stressed 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.

Appreciating UNFPA Bangladesh for extending technical support to eliminate obstetric fistula, he urged all concerned to come forward and take necessary steps to free Rangpur division from the preventable disease by 2030 next.