BPKIHS briefs female health volunteers on obstetric fistula
KATHMANDU: Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) and members of mothers' groups of Tilathi Koiladi Rural Municipality, Saptari, were oriented on obstetric fistula, today.
A team from BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS), Dharan, as part of their regular community outreach organized an orientation programme at Tilathi-1. The event was attended by 34 FCHVs and members of mothers' groups active in the rural municipality.
On the occasion, they were informed that obstetric fistula is a hole between the birth canal and the rectum or bladder caused by prolonged and obstructed labour due to lack of timely and adequate medical care, causing continuous leakage of urine or stool or both.
Kishor Thakur, one of the facilitators, said obstetric fistula can be prevented and in most of the cases treated, adding that it can be avoided by delaying the age of first pregnancy and ensuring timely access to obstetric care.
He also informed that BPKIHS with support from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is providing free-of-cost surgical treatment for survivors of obstetric fistula.
At the end of the programme, one of the participants, FCHV Puja Jha, said earlier she didn't know that fistula is one of the most serious injuries of childbearing and expressed her commitment to work to discourage early marriage and child-bearing.
Chairperson of Tilathi Koiladi Rural Municipality Satish Singh said that earlier he was unaware of obstetric fistula and expressed sadness that women who experience it have to suffer constant incontinence, shame, social segregation and health problems. He also thanked BPKIHS and UNFPA for providing free fistula services through surgeries to women living with obstetric fistula.
According to Thakur, around 300 FCHVs and members of mothers' groups of Province 2 and 1 have already been oriented on obstetric fistula so far this year by BPKIHS in collaboration with UNFPA.
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