KARACHI: Obstetric Fistula is one of the most serious and tragic childbirth injuries.
What exactly is Obstetric Fistula: A hole between the birth canal and bladder and/or rectum, it is caused by prolonged, obstructed labour without access to timely, high-quality medical treatment. It leaves women with incontinence problems, and often leads to chronic medical problems, depression, social isolation and deepening poverty.
Obstetric Fistula is preventable: It can largely be avoided by delaying the age of first pregnancy; the cessation of harmful traditional practices; and timely access to obstetric care.
COVID-19: More women and girls will be at risk of Obstetric Fistula due to overburdened health systems. In addition, fistula repairs have widely been suspended as they are deemed to be non-urgent and hospitals have diverted resources to care for patients with COVID-19.
Child Marriages: 13 million more child marriages will take place by 2030. Families are more likely to marry off daughters to alleviate the perceived burden of caring for them, especially in the anticipated economic fallout of the pandemic.
Awareness: Due to all these reasons an increase in cases might occur and new strategies will be required in the post-COVID-19 recovery period to address the expected backlog of cases. International Day to End Obstetric Fistula must be used to augment awareness and intensify actions towards ending Obstetric Fistula.
In Pakistan Provincial Health Minister renewed pledge to end Obstetric Fistula through special focus on mother and child health. In her message on the ‘International day to end Obstetric Fistula’ She said that Obstetric Fistula was most devastating medical injuries that effect both physical and mental health of women. She said it should not left to the fates as to who survives and who suffers such a grievous injury: “Everyone deserves a life of dignity, and this day served as a reminder that we cannot ignore such a promise,” she said.
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