15-Day obstetric Fistula identification and referral campaign launched in Tazumuddin

Bhola Correspondent: A 15-day obstetric fistula identification and referral campaign has been officially launched in Tazumuddin Upazila of Bhola district to raise awareness, screen suspected patients, and bring them under free medical treatment.​The campaign was inaugurated by Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Md. Mahbub Kabir at the conference room of the Tazumuddin Upazila Health Complex on Wednesday (September 10) at 10:00 AM. The opening ceremony was attended by Residential Medical Officer (RMO) Dr. Dibyendu Roy, alongside other health and family planning officials, staff, and field-level workers.  ​This initiative is part of a continuous series of programs implemented across various upazilas of Bhola district with the assistance of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the overall collaboration of the Centre for Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB). Similar active screening drives have previously been conducted successfully in Lalmohan and other upazilas of the district.  ​Speaking at the inauguration, Dr. Md. Mahbub Kabir stated that such active screening and identification campaigns are playing a vital role in realizing the government's target of eliminating obstetric fistula by 2030. He noted that field-level interventions have already helped numerous women break free from long-standing physical suffering and return to normal, healthy lives.  ​He further elaborated that field workers from the health and family planning departments across different unions and community levels in Tazumuddin will conduct active door-to-door searches to detect potential fistula patients. The collaborative field teams comprise Health Inspectors (HI), Assistant Health Inspectors (AHI), Health Assistants (HA), Family Welfare Assistants (FWA), Family Welfare Visitors (FWV), and Family Planning Inspectors (FPI). The campaign aims to eliminate the social stigma and lack of awareness that often causes women to suffer in silence for years.  ​Under the campaign mechanics, suspected patients identified at the community and upazila levels will first receive initial check-ups locally and then be sent to the Bhola Sadar Hospital. Following necessary screenings and diagnosis confirmation, confirmed patients will be referred to the National Fistula Centre at Dhaka Medical College Hospital for advanced medical management.  ​Officials confirmed that all medical treatments, including surgeries, will be provided entirely free of charge. Furthermore, patients will receive financial and logistical support—including travel expense assistance and post-operative rehabilitation—to help them resume a dignified and normal life.