INTERNATIONAL DAY TO END OBSTETRIC FISTULA: ORGANIZATION CONDEMNS INCREASING RATE OF OCCURRENCE IN NIGERIA

By Chris Chikelue

Poor maternal healthcare and delays in emergency treatment in hospitals has continued to leave many women especially the young ones with preventable childbirth injuries leading to obstetric fistula.

The increasing rate of teenage pregnancy in Nigeria on its own is worsening these cases of obstetric fistula.

The warning came from some health advocates under the auspices of Gem Hub Initiative (GHI), a Non- Governmental Organization (NGO) on Saturday, May 23 as the world marked the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula.

Obstetric fistula is a severe childbirth injury caused mainly by prolonged obstructed labour without timely medical intervention, particularly emergency caesarean section services.

According to the Organization’s Executive Director, Mrs. Oyeyemi Pitan in a statement, the condition can leave women unable to control urine or faeces and often exposes survivors to stigma, abandonment and emotional trauma.

“Nigeria still records a high rate of teenage pregnancy, one of the underlying factors of obstetric fistula. Our work in communities shows that far more needs to be done,” she added.

The Executive Director of the Non-governmental GHI explained that many survivors also lose their babies during labour and are later left to face rejection, shame and social isolation.

“Experts have identified teenage pregnancy, child marriage, poverty and poor access to maternal healthcare as major drivers of obstetric fistula in Nigeria.

“Recent findings from a 2026 study by Johns Hopkins University estimated that about 457,000 women aged 15 to 64 were living with obstetric fistula globally in 2020, although advocates say Nigeria remains among the countries with a heavy burden of the condition.

With all these therefore Gem Hub Initiative called for stronger investment in adolescent health programmes, improved maternal healthcare systems and quicker access to emergency obstetric care to help eliminate fistula by 2030.

Chris writes for the Ministry of Information, Anambra State