Raditzai Ndhlovu, the country representative of UN Population Fund (UNFPA), has disclosed that there are 800,000 cases of fistula and 20,000 new cases every year.
She said that the additional 20,000 that comes in every year is making the whole repair cumbersome since there are already 800,000 unattended to.
“Nigeria currently has 800,000 fistula repairs that need to be done with 20,000 new cases every year,” she said.
“And you can see with 800,000 waiting to be repaired and the 20,000 coming in every year, the work is huge for the repair. That is why we also want to focus on prevention.”
According to her the UNFPA initiated a campaign to eliminate fistula in 2003 and the program is run in not less than 50 countries, Nigeria inclusive.
She advised that the prevention of the disease should be given utmost priority and not just the repairs which could lead more increase in fistula cases in the country.
The fund is making move to mark the 2016 International Day for the Elimination of Obstetric Fistula through the creation of public awareness on the health situation.
