KARACHI, Oct 24: Fistula, which is caused by obstructed labour and obstructed traffic in rural areas of the country, is responsible for deaths of many pregnant women.

This was stated by Dr John Kelley, prominent gynaecologist from the United Kingdom, who was given a medal of service and honorary life membership of the Pakistan Medical Association, at a function on Thursday.

Dr Kelly has been regularly coming to Pakistan to run fistula repair camps. This is a condition which occurs after obstructed labour in pregnant women in the urinary bladder causing women to have no control over urination.

The award was given by Surgeon Badar Siddiqui, PMA Sindh president. He said the four fistula repair camps which Dr Kelly had organized in Larkana, twice in Hyderabad, and in Nawabshah, all the women treated had been very young and very poor.

Dr Kelly emphasized that governments should run a programme for poverty alleviation so that poor pregnant women should receive basic medical care.