Photo: BSS

RANGPUR, Nov 11, 2025 (BSS) - At an advocacy meeting today, officials and health experts urged grassroots level public representatives to quickly identify obstetric fistula patients so that they can be brought under free treatment for their recovery.

They made the call at the meeting on 'Fistula Patient Identification' organised by the Upazila Health and Family Planning Department at Bhurungamari Upazila Parishad conference room in Bhurungamari upazila town of Kurigram district.

LAMB Hospital under the UNFPA-assisted Elimination of Genital Fistula by Capturing, Treating, Rehabilitating and Reintegrating in Bangladesh (FRRei) project extended support in arranging the event to eliminate obstetric fistula from Bhurungamari upazila. 

Chairmen and secretaries of ten union parishads of Bhurungamari upazila, Sub Assistant Community Medical Officers, Pharmacists, Family Planning Inspectors, Family Welfare Visitors and Family Welfare Service providers participated in the event. 

Bhurungamari Upazila Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr Abu Sajjad Mohammad Sayem presided over the programme.

District Youth Development Officer of Kurigram Md Makbul Hossain, Bhurungamari Upazila Social Services Officer Md Shamsuzzaman and President of Bhurungamari Press Club Md Anwarul Islam were present as invited guests.

District Facilitator (LAMB) Manju Ara Begum oriented everyone present about fistula disease. She said that it is important to identify fistula patients quickly and ensure proper treatment. 

She discussed the services being provided to fistula patients by LAMB Hospital and other government health services providing facilities in identifying and referral of fistula patients for treatments.

She highlighted the plan to eliminate obstetric fistulas from Bhurungamari upazila by December next. 

Reproductive Health Services Coordinator of Johns Hopkins Programme for International Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics (JHPIEGO) Dr Sumashree Roy answered various questions asked by the participants on obstetric fistula.

On behalf of all Union Parishads of Bhurungamari upazila, Shilkhuti Union Parishad Chairman Md Asaduzzaman said that they will conduct a campaign to identify fistula patients by miking for two days so that there are no more patients in their unions. 

Dr Abu Sajjad Mohammad Sayem urged the field level public representatives, health and family planning workers to be more diligent in detecting obstetric fistula patients for their referral, treatment and rehabilitation. 

"The fistula patients identified initially will be referred to the government hospital or LAMB Hospital for advanced treatment after confirming through tests at the field level," he said.