Vesicovaginal Fistula Surgeon Warns Women Against Unwanted Pregnancies

A vesicovaginal fistula repair surgeon, Dr Stephen Arigidi, has  advised women to avoid unwanted pregnancies in other to reduce the likelihood of developing fistula.

Arigidi, a Deputy Director, with the Kwara State Ministry of Health, gave the advice  while speaking with journalists on Friday.

The surgeon explained that unwanted pregnancies and frequent pregnancies exposes women to fistula cases.

The surgeon linked many cases of vesicovaginal fistula to delivery under unskilled birth personnel as well as prolonged and obstructed labour.

The expert urged pregnant women to  regularly attend ante-natal care and ensure that they deliver their babies under skilled medical personnel.

Arigidi stated that delivery through Caesarean Section instead of prolonged labour should not be seen as a curse, and  that prolonged labour could induce development of fistula or other complications.

The surgeon said more than 100 fistula cases had so far been treated in Sobi Specialist Hospital Ilorin.

He, therefore, urged fistula patients not to delay in visiting the hospital for free examination and treatment.

Mrs Jumoke Adekogba, a reproductive health advisor with Engender Health, an NGO, in her own remark  named early pregnancy, excessive pregnancies and late pregnancies as some of the causes of fistula cases, adding that family planning was one of the ways of preventing vesicovaginal fistula. 

According to her,  many doctors, nurses  and other reproductive health workers has been  trained by  the NGO to build their capacities to attend to fistula cases in eleven states of the federation.

She called for more support from husbands, relatives and friends of fistula patients.

Adekogba added that vesicovaginal fistula is not contagious and that vesicovaginal fistula patients should be stigmatized or discriminated.

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