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What To Know About VVF (3)

By Habib Sadauki
27 February 2016   |   8:56 pm
FISTULA Care Plus Project, is working to improve the lives of women with fistula in developing countries. This is a USAID, funded project implemented by a New York based non governmental organisation (NGO), EngenderHealth

Management Centres
FISTULA Care Plus Project, is working to improve the lives of women with fistula in developing countries. This is a USAID, funded project implemented by a New York based non governmental organisation (NGO), EngenderHealth. In Nigeria, the FC+ is partnering with the Nigerian Governments at the federal, state and local levels, developmental Partners, private companies, faith-based organisations, and other local groups to make lasting improvements in the quality and availability of reproductive and maternal health services as well as strengthen provision of fistula services to affected women.

The Fistula Care Plus is a five-year project awarded in December 2013, and it will be implemented through 2018. The Project’s effort is focused around advocating and prevention of prolonged obstructed labour, treatment of obstetric fistula. EngenderHealth is the implementing partner.
The main goal of Fistula Care Plus is to strengthen health system capacity for fistula prevention, detection, treatment, and reintegration in priority countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia

In Nigeria, so far, the project is working in 11 states and supporting the provision of free treatment as well as preventive services. The project supports the three National Obstetric Fistula Centers, in Bauchi, Katsina and Ebonyi States. Other supported Centres, are State owned facilities in Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kano, Jigawa, Kwara, Cross River and Oyo States. The project is working towards identifying other especially in the northeast for support in the treatment of fistula clients.

In all the supported centres the treatment is totally free, surgical care accommodation and feeding. In all these centres, the Fistula Care Plus collaborate with States government to provide free services. In some cases the state government also support the clients with transport fare. Other fistula centres also have rehabilitation centres where clients can learn some craft and trade before being discharged. This, will empower them to have a means of transportion to the hospital in their next pregnancy.
Dr. Habib Sadauki, Country Project Manager, EngenderHealth and Fistula Care Plus did the piece in an interaction with PAUL ADUNWOKE.

As mentioned earlier, there may be about 12,000 new cases of fistula occurring every year in this country alone. Unfortunately, the combined efforts of all Partners result in the repair of just about 5,000 cases every year. This, leaves a large backlog every year. The majority of the cases are repaired successfully.

The first attempt at repair carries the highest success rate, with subsequent repairs the success rate of closure of the fistula continues to diminish. The evaluation and treatment of obstetric fistula creates one of the most challenging clinical scenarios. The preparation for surgery, surgical technique and post operation wound healing each bears significant impact in the outcome.

It is therefore, advised that only doctors trained in the techniques of the repair should attempt even the simplest fistula. Fistula Care Plus, project is involved with the training of surgical teams of doctors, nurses and other health workers for the repair. The major challenge is that there are very few trained surgeons to address the large backlog of clients.

Dr. Habib Sadauki, Country Project Manager, EngenderHealth and Fistula Care Plus did the piece in an interaction with PAUL ADUNWOKE.

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