World Fistula Day: 135 women diagnosed with fistula in a year

Experts say Pakistan needs more fistula centres as it has only 13

QUETTA: Marking the World Fistula Day in Quetta, doctors have said that efforts are under way in 22 districts of Balochistan to create awareness among the people about fistula.

Fistula is an abnormal connection between two organs or vessels that do not usually connect.

Addressing a news conference at the Quetta Press Club on Tuesday, Fistula Foundation Balochistan’s Dr Haq Nawaz, Dr Masha Khan, Prof Ehsan Naeem and others have urged the provincial government to utilise all its resources in order to prevent fistula.



“More training centres need to be established to create awareness among expecting mothers about their health and their child’s health so that fistula can be prevented,” they demanded.

In a year, 135 women in Balochistan have been diagnosed with fistula.
“At least 13 fistula centres have been established in Pakistan, while many patients are being provided free treatment in Karachi, Quetta, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Gilgit-Baltistan and other cities,” they said, adding that women coming from remote villages were being compensated for travelling as well.

The doctors said, “More than two million women have been battling the disease worldwide while in Pakistan annually 4,000 to 5,000 women are being diagnosed with fistula.”

Dr Nawaz said, “Due to lack of awareness and education majority of our women are unaware of the disease and can’t even take preventive measures and precautions. We have to conduct awareness campaigns throughout the country in order to prevent fistula from spreading and for its timely treatment.