Cases of fistula problem among women have been said to be prevalent mostly among rural dwellers in Nigeria, particularly among those  with poor socio-economic background.

Speaking when he met with a team of health experts from Engender Health sponsored by USAID in Ilorin at the weekend, Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Kayode Issa, said aggressive advocacy was a necessary measure that should be used to correct the wrong impression among the  people that fistula problem was not common in the state.

“There are lots of these challenges around. There are people who are not coming to the fore because, first, they are not aware that there is cure for it and second, because they are shy due to unwarranted stigma attached to the problem in some communities,” he said.

He, therefore,  suggested that a local name should be found for the problem to help create better awareness and enlightenment among people.

The commissioner also  expressed optimism that the collaboration of the state government with the agency in the counterpart arrangement on ground would help solve the problem once and for all.

He said the state government has the required medical personnel as well as structure to accommodate the agency’s request for space to establish a department for the surgical operation for fistula problem at Kwara State Specialist Hospital, Sobi.

The commissioner also assured of the state governor’s approval of free surgical services and feeding for patients, just like the situation in some other states of the federation where  fistula centres are in operation.

Also speaking, the leader of the team, Dr Adamu Issa, said that the Engender Health would provide all consumables necessary for surgical operations of patients and renovate part of the hospital to be used, adding that the agency had also trained nurses and doctors for the operation expected to start in December.

Dr Issa, who said the fistula problem is no longer related to a section of the country, added that the problem needs national recognition as it is found in all parts of the country.