Source: All Africa
The U. N. Population Fund (UNFPA) Fistula Program has graduated 20 Fistula survivors in Suakoko, Bong County following six months of rehabilitation and training in various livelihood initiatives.

As part of the initiative, UNFPA also provided each survivor US$100, a Starter Kit, telephone and tailoring machine, among others.

Speaking to the Liberia News Agency (LINA) at the 8th graduation ceremony of Fistula survivors at Phebe Hospital in Suakoko Tuesday, UNFPA Country Director Dr. Oluremi Sogunro stressed the need for serious attention to be given fistula survivors due to the critical nature of the disease.

Dr. Sogunro said UNFA decided to provide the materials to the survivors to help them sustain re-integration into their respective communities, and urged community residents to accept and not stigmatize them.

He told LINA that the 20 Fistula survivors came from various counties across the country and were trained and certificated in Cosmetology, Tailoring, Soap-making and Pastry, among others.

He called on the beneficiaries to make maximum use of the items and knowledge they have acquired over the past months.

Meanwhile, the UNFPA official has blamed the prevalence of the illness to the increase in adolescent pregnancy among young girls in the country, and called on the relevant authorities to curtail such unwholesome practice.

In remarks, the Director of Family Health at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Caullaus Jabbeh, said fistula is of grave concern to the government as about 50 percent of delivery is done by untrained midwives, a situation which, he claimed, is the main cause of the disease.

Dr. Jabbeh explained that in 2006, a survey was conducted in four of the 15 counties to commence the fistula project and it showed that girls or women affected by the illness were ostracized by relatives and friends.

• Liberia