Edo First Lady’s Office to Partner Stakeholders on Awareness, Prevention and Free Treatment of Maternal Health Condition
The Coordinator, Office of the Edo State First Lady, Her Excellency Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, has called for increased public awareness and sensitisation on obstetric fistula, describing the condition as a major maternal health challenge that requires sustained advocacy and collective action.
Mrs. Anani made the call while receiving a delegation from the National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Benin City, at the Government House in Benin City.
She said the health and well-being of women remain a top priority of the Senator Monday Okpebholo-led administration under the SHINE Agenda, noting that the “H” in SHINE represents Health for men, women and children.
The Coordinator pledged to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to launch a statewide awareness campaign targeting wives of local government chairmen, market women, youth groups, community leaders and other key stakeholders through radio programmes, media campaigns and grassroots engagements.
According to her, the campaign will focus on prevention, early detection and prompt access to treatment while complementing existing health initiatives of the Office of the First Lady, including Human Papillomavirus (HPV) immunisation and cancer awareness programmes.
Mrs. Anani stressed the importance of regular medical check-ups, warning that many women die from preventable health conditions due to poor health-seeking behaviour. She reaffirmed her commitment to supporting programmes that improve maternal and reproductive healthcare across Edo State.
Earlier, the Medical Director of the National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Benin City, Prof. Ileogben Sunday-Adeoye, explained that the Centre serves the South-South region as a specialised facility for the treatment, prevention, rehabilitation, training and research on obstetric fistula.
He described obstetric fistula as a childbirth injury caused mainly by prolonged obstructed labour and, in some cases, complications from gynaecological procedures, leaving affected women with continuous leakage of urine or faeces and severe physical, emotional and social challenges.
Prof. Sunday-Adeoye identified poverty, ignorance, patronage of unqualified healthcare providers and limited access to skilled birth attendants as major factors contributing to the condition.
He also disclosed that under the Federal Government’s Social Intervention Programme through the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), treatment for obstetric fistula is completely free, covering surgery, feeding, accommodation and a ₦20,000 transportation allowance for each patient.
The Medical Director, however, lamented that low public awareness continues to prevent many women from accessing the free treatment and appealed to the Office of the First Lady to lead a statewide mobilisation campaign to ensure more women benefit from the life-changing services.
