The National Obstetric Fistula Centre in Ebonyi has discharged 63 repaired patients from the treatment centre.
Medical Director of the centre, Dr Johnson Obuna, disclosed this on Thursday in Abakaliki during the discharge ceremony of the repaired patients.
He said the patients who came from 11 states of the country including Ebonyi, Rivers, Edo, Abia, Delta, Kogi, Cross River, Lagos, Anambra, Enugu and Imo, have been fully repaired.
According to him, the treatment, co-sponsored by the Office of the Wife of the Ebonyi Governor, Mrs. Rachel Umahi, the Gender Unit of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Fistula Foundation and Ebonyi Centre, commenced on Aug. 28, 2020.
Obuna said that one of the major causes of obstetric fistula was poor or default obstetric services.
“Many women due to ignorance on how to access standard obstetric service, resort to quacks or deliver at home. Many of them lose their babies, lives or both and those, who survived end up with other complications, including obstetric fistula due to absent or poorly supervised labour.
“Currently, we are observing the worrisome trends, where poorly done Caesarean section is increasing, becoming the commonest cause of obstetric fistula cases in the country.
“I enjoin the repaired patients to adhere strictly to these: abstain from sex for at least six months, avoid pregnancy for at least one year.
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“To help you, you are free to access our free Family Planning Services. Once pregnancy occurs, book your pregnancy here, if you live in Ebonyi. Never you patronise quacks again,” he advised.
In her remark, the wife of the state governor said she was happy that the fistula patients were finally free and back to life again.
Umahi, who was represented by her Special Assistant on welfare, Mrs. Patience Okorie, commended the medical director and nurses in the centre and urged them to keep the flag flying.
She assured that her office will continue to provide relief for women and girls through different platform.
