PRESS RELEASE, January 31, 2017: EngenderHealth Hosts Media Round Table on Fistula Prevention in Nigeria
It is estimated that about 150,000 women in Nigeria are suffering from fistula. According to the Federal Ministry of Health, this figure is only an estimate of the exact number. However, health experts agree that about 12,000 new cases of fistula occur in the country every year. Only 5,000 of these new cases are treated within this period by the various fistula intervention efforts by government and donor organisations operating in the country.
It is in a bid to increase public awareness on how to prevent fistula, the USAID-funded Fistula Care Plus (FC+) project, managed by EngenderHealth, is organising a journalists’ round table on fistula prevention on February 2 – 4, 2017 in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
Theme for the round table is “Community participation: Play Your Part.” During the discussion, participants will hear what communities in Ebonyi State are doing to contribute to prevention and management of fistula. Participants will also visit two rural communities to hear real life stories on how communities are supporting women who are suffering the condition. Each participant will complete a feature story on fistula as part of the discussion.
EngenderHealth stakeholders and partners in Ebonyi State, including the Wife of the Executive Governor and the founder of Family Succor and Upliftment Foundation, Chief Mrs. Rachael Umahi, will participate in the discussion. A community-based organization Daughters of Virtue (DOVENET) will also make a presentation on efforts to educate and engage rural communities in order to prevent fistula in the state in collaboration with EngenderHealth.
The First Lady’s presentation will focus on how her project has been mobilizing the state’s communities to prevent fistula. She will provide insight on why her project has been assisting in the transportation of women to the fistula center in Abakaliki for treatment.
According to Babafemi Dare, Acting Country Project Manager of EngenderHealth Fistula Care Plus project, “prevention remains the best way to eliminate fistula in the country. When we successfully stop new cases occurring, then we can focus attention on the large number of women down with fistula and waiting to be repaired in the country.”
He says EngenderHealth Fistula Care Plus project will continue to collaborate with partners and the media.
The EngenderHealth team is led by Mr. Babafemi Dare, Acting Country Project Manager for FC+. Other members of the team are Mrs. Eberechukwu Diokpo, Program Officer; Dr. Suleiman Zakariya, Clinical Associate; Mrs. Olajumoke Adekogba, RH/FP Advisor.
Media participants at the discussion are drawn from the following media organizations Daily Trust newspaper Abuja, This Day newspaper Lagos, National Mirror newspaper, The Guardian newspaper Lagos, Radio Nigeria Abakaliki, Radio Nigeria Enugu, Radio Nigeria Uyo, Kiss FM Abuja, Blue Print newspaper Abuja, Liberty Radio/TV Kaduna, Vanguard Lagos, Pioneer newspaper Uyo, and Inspiration FM Uyo.
For more information contact: Ebere Diokpo on 08034500765 or via [email protected]