In a bid to address the immediate healthcare needs of women with obstetric fistula and long-term access to care, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has launched the Fistula Free Intervention Programme.
The director-general of NHIA, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, said the first phase would start in fistula obstetric centres in Katsina, Bauchi, Ebonyi and Edo states.
The director general stated this during the ministerial flag-off and inauguration of steering committee for the programme by the coordinating minister of health and social welfare, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, in Abuja.
Dr. Ohiri said about 13,000 women in Nigeria go down with obstetric fistula each year, adding that Nigeria accounts for 7.5 percent of the two million people living with unrepaired obstetric fistula globally.
He also said the country has a huge backlog of unrepaired obstetric fistula cases, and it might take up to 83 years to close the backlog.
“Globally, roughly two million people live with unrepaired obstetric fistula. Roughly one million are in developing countries and about 100,000 affected by offsetting slavery. Here in Nigeria, we account for about 7.5 percent of that number. We have roughly 13,000 new cases each year and given the backlog because of lack of financial access. At the current rate if we do not intervene, it might take up to 83 years to actually close the backlog,” he said.
Obstetric fistula is a complication, causing an abnormal hole between the bladder and vagina. This results in uncontrolled, continuous leakage of urine through the vagina.
Ohiri said the role of the NHIA through the vulnerable group fund is to ensure that the definitive care treatments for these women are affordable, adding that the aim is to reduce physical and financial pain.
He said the intervention falls within the pillar of equity, which is among the NHIA’s four pillars of focus and coverage of equity and efficiency.
“And within the pillar of equity is where this is situated, where we’re looking at the design of the vulnerable fund to prioritise equity and enhance safety nets for the poor and vulnerable.
“The first phase we intend to start with the national obstetric fistula centres. There are four of them in the country: Katsina, Bauchi, Ebonyi and Edo. And in the second phase of this, we hope to expand it to other hospitals that provide fistula care but are not necessarily designated for fistula care only,” he said.
Earlier, Prof. Ali Pate commended the NHIA for the programme which is about affordability of care for women who suffer from the consequences of childbirth, leading to fistula.