Photo: BSS

SIRAJGANJ, March 12, 2026 (BSS - Experts at a community level awareness meeting unanimously viewed that screening and diagnosis can be the crucial means of early recovery and proper rehabilitation of the patients suffering from obstetric fistula.

They also mentioned that identifying the patients is very important, as many of the government and non-government organisations are working in this field.

The experts came up with the remarks while providing a one-time support to a patient suffering from obstetric fistula who is now recovered after receiving treatment at the Chauhali Upazila Health Complex in the district on Wednesday. 

The patient, identified as Moyjon Begum, 72, from Baishbari village under the Chauhali Upazila, had been suffering from an obstetric fistula for 28 years.

She was diagnosed on January 22, 2026, at the Fistula Corner of the District Hospital in Sirajganj. Later, she was admitted to the Fistula Unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital on January 28, 2026, where she underwent surgery on February 9, 2026. She has recovered.

The support was given as part of an obstetric fistula identification campaign that has begun activities in Ullapara and Tarash upazilas under Sirajganj District to eliminate obstetric fistula.

Field-level search activities started from March 2 last across 14 unions and continue for 15 days.

Under the 'End obstetric fistula project' funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) with technical support from the Centre for Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB), field workers are now collecting information on potential fistula patients through household visits.

Suspected fistula patients are diagnosed at fistula corner at district hospital. All confirmed fistula patients are referred to the National Fistula Centre at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital for surgery.

Free medical treatment is provided there, including travel expenses. Additionally, poor patients are receiving rehabilitation support after completing treatment.

 An easy way to recognize a fistula patient is that urine or stool, or both, continuously leak through the birth canal. This condition may appear after prolonged obstructed labor or following abdominal or uterine surgery.

Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr ABM Kaiser, Medical Officers Dr. Zakaria Bin Submarin and Dr. Fahim and District Coordinator of CIPRB Saiful Islam Sharif, among others, were present at the ceremony.

Dr Kaiser told the meeting that the patients suffering from obstetric fistula are getting the support of treatment and rehabilitation free of cost as many of the government and non-government organisations concerned are providing the support.

Utmost emphasis should be given to reaching the messages about the cost-free treatment and rehabilitation facilities to the patients in different parts of the region, particularly in the remote and hard-to-reach areas, so that they can be brought under the existing privileges.