Inaugurating the Committee recently, in Abuja, according to VON , the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole noted that “the attainment of Universal Health Coverage would facilitate Care Accessibility ,Affordable and Quality Health Care Services where no one is denied care as long as he or she remains legal resident in Nigeria.

Professor Adewole further said “the prevention and treatment of obstetric fistula is a priority of the Federal Government. Consequently, the establishment of more Obstetric Fistula Centres demonstrate government’s commitment to the improvement of the maternal and reproductive health indices’’

He said “evidences abound that prevention is key; therefore, Government is working relentlessly to ensure availability of functional Primary HealthCare centres, skilled birth attendants, the supply of essential maternal Health commodities for the provision of quality antenatal care, safe delivery and postnatal care for women and children’’

The Minister informed that the Federal Government had designated three (3) facilities located in Kaduna, Bauchi and Ebonyi States as National Obstetric Fistula centres for prevention, treatment, training and research.

He pointed out that the National Centres were expected to provide technical backstopping as well as act as referral centres to the several health facilities where fistula cases were diagnosed in the six Geopolitical Zones.

To this end, new centres would be located in Adamawa, Edo, Niger, Osun and Oyo states; with Oyo State site serving as a Regional centre.

He urged the Committee to come up with recommendations, strategies, interventions and roll- out plans for the establishment of the centres in addition to facilitating funding for the projects.

In her opening remarks, the Director, Family Health, FMOH, Dr. Adebimpe Adebiyi, said that Obstetric Fistula was a serious and prevalent reproductive health challenge for women in the developing world and Nigeria bore about 40% of the global burden.

She also said that the elimination of the scourge from Nigeria would further improve the health and developmental indices as the country strived toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

In his Acceptance Speech, the Permanent Secretary, FMOH, who is the Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee, Mr. Abdulaziz Mashi Abudullahi, assured that the Committee would do its best in achieving the terms of reference and duly submit its report on time.

He also pledged that Members would work assiduously to deliver on their assignment.