Nation
UN To Support Nigeria’s Obstetric Fistula Strategic Plan Implementation
The UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, has said that the UN would continue to support Nigeria’s Obstetric Fistula Strategic Plan 2019-2023, which outlined a vision of a fistula-free nation.
In a statement by the UN Office in Nigeria to commemorate the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula, Kallon disclosed that Nigeria accounted for 40 percent of all fistula cases globally.
The theme for this year’s commemoration is, “Women’s rights are human rights! End fistula now!”
According to Kallon, Fistula is not just a health issue but also a women’s rights issue.
“A woman’s right to decide if and when she has children is vital to achieving equality for women and girls.
“Women need to be fully empowered to make their own decisions about sexual and reproductive health and about contraception,” he said.
The UN chief said that the pregnancy-related disability, unheard of in developed nations, affects two million women in the developing world.
He explained that the Covid-19 pandemic was expected to cause an increase in instances of fistula, due to the pressure on the health system, decreased access to family planning, and a rise in child marriages.
“Many Nigerian women and girls are needlessly enduring pain and ostracisation in 2021.
“A hole between the birth canal and bladder and/or rectum is caused by prolonged obstructed labour, without access to timely, high-quality medical treatment.
“It leaves women permanently incontinent and often leads to chronic medical problems, depression, and deepening poverty.
“The social consequences are as devastating as the physical ones, because women are often abandoned by their husbands and shunned by their communities,” he said.
Kallon noted that the UNFPA had ably led the global campaign to End Fistula, helping to conduct 121,000 surgeries in 55 countries since 2003.
“The good news is that obstetric fistula is both preventable and treatable in nearly all cases. Patients with uncomplicated fistula can undergo a simple surgery that costs $600 dollars per patient.”
Kallon added that promoting universal access to quality care was essential to the prevention of fistula.
He said that the current scale of response was not commensurate with the burden of suffering across Nigeria, adding that “we need to scale up and scale up fast.”
“Less than 2,000 surgical repairs are performed annually here, leaving a huge backlog in untreated fistula that will take decades to clear at the current rate.
”We need to strengthen health systems and maternal medical care, promote women’s rights, empower women and girls with autonomy in their decision-making.
“We should also increase availability and affordability of fistula treatment, increase funds allocation, particularly for obstetric fistula prevention, treatment and reintegration services.
“Each new case should and can be prevented when women get timely, high-quality maternity care, including skilled birth attendance, midwifery care and emergency obstetric care,” he said.
Kallon said ending fistula was a key element of “leaving no-one behind” and the world risked failing to achieve the SDG target, if there was still a woman or girl left in the world suffering from fistula and being neglected.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rivers state has declared a one day fasting and prayer to seek divine intervention on the political crisis rocking the state.
The Association said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt.
State chairman of the Association,Most Rev. Dokiboeriya B. Kaladokubo said the fasting and prayer which holds February 5th at the Ecumenical center Abonnema wharf was in furtherance of the Association peace, advocacy, good governance and political stability in Rivers state.
He said the Association has observed with disappointment the dangerous trend and and gradual descent of governance in Rivers state into uncertainty and near oblivion, adding that the trend has exposed Rivers citizens to insecurity, economic hardship, loss of livelihood and the destruction of lives and property.
Kaladokubo said the association has also watched with dismay the unfolding political crisis in the state, stressing “what we see today is not merely a disagreement among political actors,it is a dangerous drift that threatens the very foundation of governance, peace, security and the collective well-being of our people”
According to him,”as the custodians of the spiritual and moral conscience of Rivers state,we can not remain silent while the state is pushed steadily towards chaos, institutional breakdown and avoidable suffering
“We are not oblivious of the fact that Rivers state like some other states in the federation often experience tension between the Executive and the Legislature “adding”when disagreement escalate they can hinder governance, delay budgets ,erode public trust and impede peaceful, constructive development”
The Christian body stressed the need for parties involved in the conflict to seek for peaceful resolution, stressing that as Christians and children of God “we should seek the path of peace and reconciliation as Christ Himself taught us”it said
The Association further encourage the both arms of government to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and prioritize good governance in Rivers state
“We also advised all the parties in these conflict to call their supporters to exercise restraint in all their utterances and de-escalate tension in the interest of peace in Rivers state ”
CAN also described as disturbing the role some elder statesmen and individuals in the state have played and continue to play in the crisis when they should have serve as voices of wisdom, restraint and unity
“Rather than guiding the process towards peace, some have taken sides,fueled division and encouraged instability becoming more dangerous than those currently holding power”,it said.
John Bibor
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