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RESTORING DIGNITY AMONG WOMEN WITH OBSTETRIC FISTULA: UNFPA PARTNERS FIRST LADY OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA AND STAKEHOLDERS
ACCRA, GHANA, 6 December 2023 ⸺ The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Ghana has formed a partnership with the First Lady of Ghana, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo through her Rebecca Foundation, together with other stakeholders towards the elimination of the pervasive obstetric fistula among women in the country.
The collaborative effort is a 7-year campaign until 2030, that seeks to garner the public sector, the United Nations (UN), the private sector, NGOs, community actors, and individuals with the objectives of strengthening routine fistula repair in hospitals as well as organising fistula repair campaigns in selected areas to accelerate the clearing of backlog cases in communities. The partnership has mobilised resources for about 200 cases to be repaired in 2023, up from what has been annual performance of 100 cases repaired per year. The partnership will also explore socio-economic reintegration of fistula survivors into the community.
Speaking at the official launch of the partnership at the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital, the Country Representative of UNFPA Ghana, Dr. Wilfred Ochan, expressed delight at the commitment of the First Lady and other partners and called for the support of all relevant stakeholders in making the campaign a sustainable and successful one.
“Today marks another giant stride towards our agenda to eliminate this troubling situation of obstetric fistula among women. We at UNFPA Ghana want to express our sincerest gratitude to the First Lady of this country for her commitment to ensuring that the fight to eliminate this case has been won. The dignity and health of women should be the concern of all and sundry. Let us, therefore, be inspired by the dedication of the first lady, so that we can all come together to successfully win this battle “He said.
“Let me also take the opportunity to thank all our private and public partners who have joined us in this campaign. It is only through an integrated and collaborative approach that we can win this battle and restore the lost smiles on the faces of women who go through inconveniences. Dr. Ochan concluded.
Others in the Partnership for Elimination of Fistula in Ghana (PEFIG) include the World Food Programme, Access Bank, MTN, Fidelity Bank, AT Telecommunications, and Ghana Health Service, National Population Council, and Media and Communications Advocacy Network (MCAN).
Obstetric fistula is a debilitating childbirth injury that unduly affects women in low-income settings, facilitating health inequalities and limiting women's access to maternal healthcare. The issue is a worrying trend and calls for an aggressive and urgent address.
It is estimated that about 500,000 women and girls live with fistula with new cases being recorded every year. In Ghana, figures show that about 1,300 cases occur every year. The condition stems from several factors, including protracted childbirth, child marriage, and lack of skilled midwifery or high-quality maternal care. Women who go through obstetric fistula suffer persistent shame, social segregation, and health problems.
According to the World Health Organization, more than 2 million young women live with untreated obstetric fistula in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. This partnership illustrates the strength of collaborative action around the situation to eliminate obstetric fistula, ensuring that no woman is left behind. Each year, on May 23rd the world observes International Day to End Obstetric Fistula. with a series of events, including awareness campaigns, educational seminars, and community engagement initiatives lined up.
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The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the UN agency focused on delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled.
