Nigeria, 7 others receive financial assistance for fistula victims

The ECOWAS Commission, through the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC) on Thursday issued a cheque of 245,000 dollars to eight of its members in support of Fistula victims.

The centre said it identified the fight against obstetric fistula as a priority area of intervention in the 2023 special allocation on fistula in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG3 and 5) which focus on maternal health and gender equality respectively.

The beneficiary members of the 2023 special allocation on fistula are Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Togo, and Nigeria.

The ceremony for the presentation of cheques to the eight beneficiaries of the 2023 fistula programme took place during the 91^st Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in Abuja.

EGDC said it has been working since 2010 to eradicate the scourge of fistula in the ECOWAS region given the serious consequences of obstetric fistula for women in line with ECOWAS reproductive health guidelines.

It said a flagship programme dubbed “Medical and financial support for women and girls suffering from obstetric fistula in ECOWAS Member States” is being rolled out in 14 Member States, except Cabo Verde, which has not reported a case of fistula since 2001.

According to EGDC, the centre has three programmes, namely: prevention through awareness creation and information; medical care through reconstructive surgery; and socioeconomic reintegration of rehabilitated women.

This is the famous 3R triptych – Repair, Reinstate and Restore, the centre said.

The main objective of the programme “Medical and Financial Support for the Treatment of Obstetric Fistula Victims in ECOWAS member states” is to improve access to health and socio-economic care for girls and women suffering from the condition.

The programme is also to enable fistula victims to live productive and useful lives and to contribute to the development of their community.

EGDC said it received a special allocation in the 2023 budget from the Administration and Finance Committee (AFC) to boost the fight against obstetric fistula.

“This budget increase has spurred EGDC to step up its efforts to support eight (08) Member States in the implementation of projects aimed at eliminating obstetric fistula in the West African Region.

“This is with particular emphasis on the rehabilitation of referral hospitals known as specialised centres,” it said.