FG, USAID conduct 1,566 fistula repairs in 5 states

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with the US Agency for International Development (USAID), has conducted more than 1,566 fistula repairs from 2021 to date.
The repairs were carried out in Bauchi, Ebonyi, Kebbi, and Sokoto states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, disclosed this at the end of a project learning and dissemination workshop for USAID-MOMENTUM Safe Surgery in Family Planning and Obstetrics (MSSFPO) project, on Tuesday in Abuja.
Kachollom, who was represented by Dr Binyerem Ukaire, Director, Family Health, also said that a fistula pricing model has been developed to improve access to services for survivors through the National Health Insurance Scheme.
She added that the partnership equally ensured access to safe and surgical obstetric care across the project implementing facilities.
She identified some of the services as caesarean delivery and peripartum hysterectomy, obstetric and iatrogenic fistula prevention care, female genital cutting prevention and management, as well as gender-based violence.
“These have contributed to 1,566 fistula repairs feat at the project-supported facilities, including the training of many healthcare workers in surgical obstetrics prevention, treatment of fistula and prevention of female genital cutting.
“This partnership and interventions in these critical areas is saving the lives of women and young girls as well as ensuring their wellbeing,” she said.
Dr Kabiru Atta, Country Project Manager, USAID-MSSFPO, said that apart from the fistula care for over 1,566 clients, the project also ensured that 81 per cent of the clients received rehabilitation and reintegration care.