Nigeria’s First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has called for improved maternal healthcare and an end to child marriage, as the world marks the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula.
Mrs Tinubu, in a statement on Saturday, joined the global community in affirming that no woman or girl should suffer from obstetric fistula, describing the condition as both preventable and treatable.
Obstetric fistula, often referred to as a ‘childbirth injury,’ is an abnormal hole between the birth canal and the bladder or rectum, caused mainly by prolonged, obstructed labour without access to timely medical care.
This condition often results in chronic leakage of urine or faeces, severe infections, nerve damage, and severe social stigma.
Medical experts say the condition occurs when labour is prolonged because the woman’s pelvis is too small, the baby’s head is too large, or the baby is poorly positioned. Without emergency obstetric care, labour can last several days, frequently leading to the death of the baby and severe tissue damage to the mother.
