LAHORE - Provincial Minister for Population Welfare Begum Zakia Shahnawaz has said that increasing number of women patients suffering from Fistula and other problems needed immediate attention.
Addressing a conference on Fistula held under the aegis of National Forum on Women Health on Tuesday, she said that the government was providing free treatment to the women going through the agony obstetric fistula. Dr Sher Shah Syed, Prof Yasmeen Rashid, Dr Nighat Shah, Dr Izhar, Dr Ashraf and representative of UNFPA Mark Brain also addressed the conference.
Provincial Minister said that a campaign against Fistula was continuing at various government hospitals with the cooperation of UNFPA for the last eight years. She said that this disease was found in young girls and its main reason was early age marriage. She said that marriage of girls before 16 years’ age has been declared illegal and punishment and fine would be imposed on violation of this law. She said that media could play an important role for elimination of this disease.
She said that Population Welfare Department was providing free treatment facilities of reproductive health. She stressed the need for creating awareness about Fistula. She said that UNFPA has complete support of the government and the aim of this conference was to get rid of Fistula.