ZAMBIA— The Ministry of Health Zambia has launched a new framework, the End Obstetric Fistula Strategic Plan for 2022-2030, as a plan to end obstetric fistula by 2030.
The new strategic plan was developed in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Zambia.
The vision of the Obstetric Fistula Strategic Plan is to see Zambia become a country free of obstetric Fistula with the goal to end it by the year 2030.
To make Zambia free of obstetric fistula, this new strategic plan provides direction for service delivery for fistula prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and reintegration as well as fistula research in the country.
The strategic plan will be applied to all levels of the Zambian healthcare system from national, provincial, district, health facility, and community.
In his official statement to launch both the Safe Motherhood Week and the International Day for Elimination of Obstetric Fistula (IDEOF), the Provincial Minister for North-western Province, Col. Grandson Katambi acknowledged the presence of traditional leaders.
The Colonel emphasized the importance of community empowerment and participation in ensuring improved utilization of available services and ensuring that the most vulnerable in rural areas are reached.
Col. Katambi said, “There is a need to ensure Universal Health Coverage for comprehensive reproductive, maternal, and newborn health care. Timely access to high-quality obstetric emergency services, ensuring availability of trained professionals at the time of birth.”
The Fistula Foundation Country Director, Mrs. Bwalya Chomba stated that no woman should lead a life of misery because of giving life.
Mrs. Chomba added that since 2017, when her organization launched the Obstetric Fistula services, more than 1,700 surgeries have been conducted, and a first-ever dedicated ward commissioned at Mansa General Hospital.
“We are working with the Ministry of Health to launch a new countrywide treatment network to build Zambia’s long-term capacity for fistula care and to serve as a path forward to ending fistula within a generation,” she said.
Speaking on behalf of the UNFPA Country Representative, Ms. Jennipher Mijere said that Safe Motherhood Week and the IDEOF were a call to realize the fundamental human rights of all women and girls across the country.
She insisted that with a special focus on those most left behind, excluded, and shunned by society.
Ms. Mijere also emphasized the importance of ensuring increased availability of data on fistula including its integration in health management information and routine surveillance systems if we are to attain the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.
“We call for renewed political commitment, additional resources, investments, and strengthened collaboration between Government, communities, development partners, and the private sector,” Ms Mijere added.
Zambia and Obstetric Fistula Management
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines obstetric fistula as a medical condition in which a hole develops between the birth canal, bladder, and/or rectum.
Additionally, it is caused by prolonged, obstructed labor without access to timely, high-quality medical treatment.
According to the WHO, each year between 50,000 to 100,000 women worldwide is affected by obstetric fistula.
Additionally, obstetric fistula is preventable, it can largely be avoided by delaying the age of first pregnancy, cessation of harmful traditional practices, and timely access to obstetric care.
Unfortunately, every day in 2020, almost 800 women died from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.
Globally, over two million women live with obstetric fistula with most of the cases being from Africa.
In the Zambia Demographic Health Survey of 2018, more than 33,000 women and girls had been affected.
Moreover, indicated that childbearing in Zambia begins early, with more than a third of women giving birth by age 18 and more than half giving birth by age 20, and around 47% developing fistula during their first pregnancy.
In Zambia, only half of the women in rural areas deliver with a skilled birth attendant, leading to high rates of maternal mortality and childbirth injury, such as obstetric fistula.
WHO Zambia has provided technical support towards planning, training, and mentorship of members of the Safe Motherhood Action Groups at Urban Clinic.
During the Safe Motherhood Week activities are heightened to increase awareness and utilization of health services.
The activities include the provision of short- and long-term family planning services, screening for breast and cervical cancer, rapid syphilis testing, antenatal and postnatal care, and training & mentorship of Safe Motherhood Action Groups.
The activities include advocacy meetings with Traditional Leaders, HIV testing services, sensitization on Sexual Gender Based Violence, fistula prevention messages, and treatment & adolescent health services.
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