Fistula Centers In Pakistan
Fistula Centers In Pakistan: Doctors have said that efforts are under way in 22 districts of Balochistan to create awareness among the people about fistula.
Fistulas are usually caused by injury or surgery, but they can also result from an infection or inflammation. Fistula is an abnormal connection between two organs or vessels that do not usually connect.
Addressing a news conference on Fistula Foundation Balochistan’s Dr Haq Nawaz, Dr Masha Khan, Prof Ehsan Naeem and others have urged the provincial government to utilize all its resources in order to prevent fistula.
“More training centres need to be established to create awareness among expecting mothers about their health and their child’s health so that fistula can be prevented,” they demanded.
In a year, 135 women in Balochistan have been diagnosed with fistula. According to extensive research collaboration by UNFPA and the Pakistan National Forum on Women’s Health, an estimated 3,500 cases of obstetric fistula occur in Pakistan every year. Identifying patients has been difficult, as many women with fistula live in abject poverty in isolated areas where education and awareness are low. Many of them do not know that they are suffering from a medical condition for which treatment is available. Furthermore, our partners in Pakistan report difficulty in providing treatment due to a lack of trained and willing surgeons in the country.
An estimated 5,000 to 6,000 new cases of fistula are occurring in Pakistan every year. And one out of every three cases is Iatrogenic, meaning that it is caused by quacks, unskilled healthcare providers, and surgeons who may be qualified, but are incompetent and thrive in the absence of an effective accountability mechanism. It is time the government formulated a National Task Force for Fistula Treatment in order to transition from a campaign-based to a permanent approach for the management of this stark health challenge.
“At least 13 fistula centres have been established in Pakistan, while many patients are being provided free treatment in Karachi, Quetta, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Gilgit-Baltistan and other cities,” they said, adding that women coming from remote villages were being compensated for travelling as well.
The doctors said, “More than two million women have been battling the disease worldwide while in Pakistan annually 4,000 to 5,000 women are being diagnosed with fistula.”
Dr Nawaz said, “Due to lack of awareness and education majority of our women are unaware of the disease and can’t even take preventive measures and precautions. We have to conduct awareness campaigns throughout the country in order to prevent fistula from spreading and for its timely treatment.
For More Information & Videos Subscribe To Our YouTube Channel