PESHAWAR, March 24: Fistula problem is curable and can be treated through inexpensive medical procedure in no time, said a senior gynaecologist, Dr Sher Shah, while speaking at the introductory session of a performance by renowned classical dancer Sheema Kirmani and her team on the health issue at Nishtar Hall here on Saturday.
“A woman from Swat lived a miserable life due to fistula for 42 years. It took two stitches and 35 minutes operation only for her to recover from the health problem, which prevented her from saying prayers for 42 years,” said Dr Shah while telling about the first patient treated by Dr Nasreen Robi at the UNFPA centre set up for such women patients at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar.
Women have to live a miserable life due to fistula, caused during an obstructive delivery in inexperienced hands due to lack of access to proper health facilities, said Dr Shah during a function held by the UNFPA to help spread awareness of the medical condition among women on the “World Fistula Awareness Day”.
“Fistula means a hole, often caused when a woman is mishandled during delivery. The hole in bladder or tube, caused due to pressure during an obstructive delivery, can cause women to urinate all the time. The loss of control over urination results in an embarrassment for the patients,” explained Dr Robi, who heads the gynaecology department at the LRH and the centre set up under a UNFPA project providing free treatment.
The gathering, including mostly housewives, nurses, students and mid-wives, were moved by the performance of Sheema Kirmani and young actors who presented a theatrical play on the subject.
The play depicted how a girl named Shazia, symbolizing girls born in a middle and lower class families, faced gender discrimination since childhood. Forced into early marriage, Shazia loses her childhood and other rights. Early marriage as well as delivery in the absence of proper health facilities causes problems like fistula during delivery. However, the play ends withhope as awareness of the treatment of this problem saves her life.
The play not only gave a realistic picture of the social attitudes towards girls and their rights, but also shed light on how women suffer due to lack of access to health facilities.
Dr Robi said that over 400 women had been treated for fistula problem and more were coming for treatment as they became aware of the availability of treatment facilities.
After her performance, Sheema Kirmani said that health problems and empowerment of women could not be separated. She said that women being half of the population could not be ignored and they should raise voice for their rights.
The UNFPA also distributed copies of the play among the participants to help spread the message that women need not suffer anymore as treatment of fistula was available.