TheCable

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) through its Gender Development Centre (EGDC) has issued a $245,000 grant to Nigeria and seven other member states to treat fistula victims.

NAN reports that the cheques were presented to the eight member-states on Thursday during the 91st ordinary session of the ECOWAS council of ministers in Abuja.

The United Nations defines obstetric fistula as a hole between the birth canal and bladder or rectum, caused by prolonged and obstructed labour without access to timely and quality medical treatment.

The ECOWAS Gender Development Centre said it is aware that the fight to eliminate fistula is a priority area of intervention in the 2023 special allocation.

The organisation added that it is in line with the sustainable development goals (SDG) 3 and 5 on maternal health and gender equality.

The centre named Nigeria, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire,  Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, and Togo as the eight member states to benefit from the 2023 special allocation on fistula.

The centre said it initiated a programme tagged “Medical and financial support for women and girls suffering from obstetric fistula across the ECOWAS member states”.

The programme, according to the centre, would be introduced in 14 member states except for Cabo Verde which has not recorded a single case of fistula since 2001.

ECOWAS said the initiative would “improve access to health and socio-economic care for girls and women suffering from the condition”.

The programme would also allow fistula victims to live a better and more productive life and contribute to their community’s development.

The centre further said a special allocation was received in the 2023 budget from the administration and finance committee (AFC) to strengthen the fight against obstetric fistula.

“This budget increase has spurred EGDC to step up its efforts to support eight (08) member states in the implementation of projects aimed at eliminating obstetric fistula in the West African Region,” the centre said.

“This is with particular emphasis on the rehabilitation of referral hospitals known as specialised centres.”