West Regional Delegate of Health applauds CBCHS’ Campaign against Fistula
Dr. Chimoun Daouda made the commendation on October 20 while opening a training workshop on Fistula for some young doctors from 12 out of the 20 health districts in the West region. The two-day workshop held in Bafoussam from October 19-20, 2023. Day one was dedicated to the training of over 30 nurses and midwives while day two was reserved for the doctors.
Addressing the participants, the West Regional Delegate of Health, Dr. Chimoun Daouda admitted that some cases of Fistula result from negligence from healthcare providers in the hospital. To reverse this rising trend, the regional delegate challenged the medical doctors to take the workshop lessons seriously to improve Fistula identification, treatment, and referrals. He expressed satisfaction with the CBC Health Services for bringing the Hope and Healing International projects to the West region, which according to him, will greatly improve the provision of quality healthcare to the population.
In his presentation, Njodzeven Divine, Sexual Reproductive Health, SRH, nurse, and consultant defined Obstetrics Fistula as a tragic birth condition resulting in the incontrollable passing of urine and feces through the vagina leaving the unfortunate woman to live in stigma and shame.
Risk factors include Poverty, Early marriages, Traditional practices like female genital mutilation (FGM), Illiteracy, the Delay model (in a decision to seek care, to reach the facility, and to be attended to in the facility), and even slow Government policy to enforce existing laws among others. To prevent Obstetric Fistula, Mr. Njodzeven prescribed; Education, Timely access to care, Trained professionals, and Universal access to modern contraception. He revealed that the CBC Health Services is doing a lot in line with the global objective to end Fistula by 2028.
According to the SRH expert, Fistula is a common health condition; 20 million women live with it mainly in Africa; over 17.000 new cases live with Fistula in Cameroon with 40-350 new cases diagnosed yearly from the Far North region, perhaps due to their intrinsic traditions and culture. The Ministry of Health and its partners have as a goal to treat 200 Fistula cases annually as a means to end Fistula by 2028. Mr. Njodzeven lamented that the rising trend of iatrogenic urogenital fistula which is hospital/provider-related is posing a new challenge, which is why there is an urgent need for the training of nurses, midwives, and doctors to fill in the gaps. Mr. Njodzeven said prevention is key to managing fistula than treatment, which is expensive to come by without external support.
Dr. Ngock George, pediatric and general surgeon who also serves as clinical supervisor of the Hope and Healing International projects brought the good news when he assured that “Every woman with Fistula can be treated”. He admitted that treatment (surgery) of Obstetric Fistula is difficult and expensive but there is always something to be done to put smiles back on the faces of the women in this condition and their families. All he needs from the doctors is to refer the cases to him in Mbingo Baptist Hospital. Dr. Ngock also drilled the doctors through identifying and managing Fistulas before and after treatment.
Other presentations were Identifying and Managing Prolonged Labour by Mrs. Kenchi, a seasoned midwife, Child Protection and Safeguarding by Mrs. Boyo Maurine, and Data Collection and Reporting by Mr. Afanwi Kari.
Speaking earlier, the SEEFF Project Officer, Yasmin Ayenjika urged the doctors to carry the sensitization to their facilities, integrate fistula screening into maternity education and screening at ANC, and into other outreach screening activities such as routine vaccination campaigns. The doctors felt happy that the training was impactful.