Fistula Centre commissioned in Tamale
Health
Thursday, July 30, 2009
By: GBC NEWS
A Fistula Centre to offer surgical operations to Fistula patients and maternal surgical conditions has been commissioned in Tamale. The centre consisting of consulting room, admission facilities and a modern theatre was jointly sponsored by the United Nations Fund of Population Activities and the Ghana Health Service.
Fistula is a hidden problem caused by prolonged obstructed labour. The disease affects two million women and girls worldwide and is said to be linked to poverty, malnutrition, poor health service, early child bearing and gender discrimination. In most cases the baby dies while the woman is abandoned and left with chronic urinary Fiscal incontinent.
In an address to commission the centre, the Minister of Health, Dr. George Sipa Adjei Yankey said the Ministry of Health will monitor the activities of the centre to ensure that women who suffer from Fistula are given the best treatment at all times.
Dr. Sipa Yankey added that prevention remains the key to ending Fistula, and also called for family planning services to be made available to help reduce maternal disability and death by 20% adding that it that is complemented with skilled attendance at all births and emergency obstetric care for all women who develop complications during delivery, Fistula problem would become rare problem in the developing world.
He commended the UNFPA and GHS for their foresight and leadership in collaborating with other stakeholders to establish the center. The Northern Regional Minister, Stephen Sumani Nayina expressed concern about the fact that more than eighty percent of deliveries in the Northern Region occur outside institutions, a situation he attributed to the vastness of the region, poor road network and inadequate number of health facilities and health personnel.
He called for improved access to maternal health care in the region in order to meet the Millennium Development Goal Five (MDG5). The UNFPA country Director, Dr. Makane Kane said with the set date for achieving MDG5 fast approaching, Ghana can at least offer hope for Fistula patients in the future.
Source: GBC NEWS
