Fulbari: Experts at an orientation meeting today stressed creating social awareness for early identification of obstetric fistula patients to bring them under cost-free treatment for their recovery and rehabilitation. The field-level health and family officials and employees should come forward and work together to bring obstetric fistula patients under treatment and rehabilitation support to ensure their normal lives from long-lasting suffering.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the experts made these observations at an event on ‘Obstetric Fistula Patient Identification,’ organized by the Upazila Family Planning Department office at Fulbari Upazila Health Complex in Fulbari upazila of Kurigram district. The event was arranged with technical assistance from UNFPA Bangladesh under the Reproductive Maternal Neonatal Child-Adolescent Health (SRMNCAH) project, implemented by LAMB, aiming to eliminate obstetric fistula from Fulbari upazila.
Assistant Director of the Family Planning Clinical Contraception Quality Improvement Services (FPCQIT) of Kurigram, Dr. Md. Manzur Rahman, attended the event as the chief guest, with Fulbari Upazila Family Planning Officer Md. Anwar Hossain presiding over the meeting. Medical Officer (Maternal and Child Health-Family Planning) Dr. Ferdousi Khatun was present as a special guest.
At the event, District Facilitator (LAMB) Manju Ara Begum oriented attendees about fistula disease, emphasizing the importance of quick identification and proper treatment. District Family Planning Facilitator Md. Asaduzzaman Sarkar highlighted the significance of addressing fistula disease and outlined plans for active field-level efforts to eliminate this curable condition. LAMB Monitoring and Documentation Coordinator Md. Abu Ibn Al Asad discussed the importance of the SRMNCAH project.
In his speech, the chief guest stated that although fistula is a neglected disease, it is possible to eradicate it through united efforts at the field level. Md. Anwar Hossain urged field-level workers to be more diligent in detecting obstetric fistula patients for referral, treatment, and rehabilitation. Dr. Ferdousi Khatun mentioned that initially identified fistula patients would be referred to government or LAMB hospitals for advanced treatment after confirmation through field-level tests.
The upazila-level health and family planning officers and employees, including Sub Assistant Community Medical Officers, Pharmacists, Family Planning Inspectors, Family Welfare Visitors, and Family Welfare Service providers, attended the event. The participants pledged to work from a humanitarian perspective in identifying fistula patients and assured their overall cooperation in eliminating obstetric fistula from Fulbari upazila.