About one thousand women living with obstetric fistula are unable to get treatment due to lack of funds.
Obstetric Fistula is a hole that develops between the vaginal rectum or bladder as a result of protracted labour. The condition causes women to leak urine and faeces or both.
Every year, 1,300 cases of the condition are recorded with only 100 out of that number getting treatment.
Treatment for the condition costs about three thousand cedis (GH¢3000) and statistics show that those mostly affected are the deprived.
It is against this backdrop that Access Bank PLC is hoping to raise more than one million cedis to support successful surgeries for these women.
After a health walk by staff of the Bank in Accra, its Head of Corporate Communications, Nana Kyeremanteng said to achieve this milestone, the Bank is intensifying its advocacy and fundraising drive through its customer base system and social media presence.
Obstetric Fistula causes sufferers to live in isolation due to the rejection by relatives and friends.
In Ghana, the condition is more prevalent in the Northern, Upper East and West, Central, Western and Ashanti Regions.
The cost of surgery of a fistula patient is estimated at GH¢3000. This, is, however, covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme.
Funds to treat most affected patients are unfortunately not available. It is in view of this that Access Bank PLC hopes to close the gap by raising funds to help women who cannot afford the treatment of their condition.
An Obstetric fistula surgeon at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr. Gabriel Ganyaglo said one of the ways to reduce cases of the condition is to create awareness on key preventive measures.
The fundraising dubbed ‘ten for ten, fist against fistula’ will solicit the support of other stakeholders to combat the condition.