KARACHI, Jan 28: Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General on HIV/Aids in Asia, Dr Nafis Sadik, on Saturday launched the UNFPA-sponsored ‘Prevention and treatment of fistula: post partum complications campaign’ in Pakistan.

The national drive being jointly undertaken by the UNFPA and National Forum on Women’s Health, is part of a global initiative to end fistula - the most devastating of all pregnancy-related disabilities among women.

The campaign launched in Pakistan with Japanese funding aims to surgically repair and rehabilitate hundreds of women suffering from fistula by establishing four regional fistula treatment centres; in Karachi (Kohi Goth Hospital, Landhi), Multan (Nishtar Hospital), Peshawar (Lady Reading Hospital) and one in Islamabad. Work at Karachi facility has already commenced under the supervision of Dr Shershah Syed with 42 surgeries already conducted, with 100 per cent success.

These centres will receive much needed equipment and supplies for fistula surgery and local doctors will be trained in surgery and post-operative care. Advocacy activities will also take place to raise awareness about the problems and efforts will be made to include fistula training in the CPSP curricula.

In her keynote address, Dr Nafis Sadik said that the social consequences of fistula were disastrous for women, which but with a surgical repair, requiring no surgical technology or extensive expenditure, can restore health, hope and a sense of dignity to living.

“Setting up a fistula centre with the assistance of the UNFPA is a major step towards improving health status of our women,” she observed mentioning that health condition occurs due to prolonged, obstructed labour, coupled with a lack of appropriate medical intervention to relieve it.

Regretting that these women are left with chronic incontinence and in nearly all cases the baby dies, she said that they were often rejected by their husbands, shunned by communities and blamed for their condition.

Dr Nafis Sadik, a graduate of Medical College - Karachi (1952 batch), pointed out with regret that no less than 4,000 to 5,000 cases of fistula were estimated to occur in the country with poor and young female being the commonest victims.

Dr France Donnay, UNFPA representative, said that the UNFPA was leading a global campaign to end fistula in 30 countries of South Asia and Africa and this was the first ever national campaign in Pakistan.

DG Health Dr Abdul Majid Rajput, President Pakistan Association of Gynaecologists Dr Farrukh Zaman, Dr Shershah Syed and Dr Sadqa Jaffarey were among other speakers.—APP