By Wongani Mkandawire

Nkhotakota, August 26, MANA: First lady Madam Monica Chakwera, has called on women and girls in the country to work hard in preventing fistula by avoiding situations which leave them vulnerable to the disease.

Speaking during the commemoration of World Fistula Day at Mkaika Community Day Secondary School in Nkhotakota on Monday, Madam Chakwera said fistula can be prevented by among other things avoiding underage pregnancies in girls.

 Madam Chakwera encouraged women to take their time and focus on education until the right age where their bodies are matured enough to reproduce without negative side effects on their health.

Deputy Minister of Health Halima Daud said her ministry is working tirelessly to make sure information as well as contraceptives are made available to women and girls living in hard to reach areas to fight unintended pregnancies in communities as one way of preventing fistula cases.

She called upon chiefs, church leaders and community leaders to encourage those suffering from fistula in their communities to get medical treatment noting that fistula is a treatable condition and as such should not be a source of shame and embarrassment.

Nkhotakota District Council Chairperson Charles Chimzukuzuku, commended the government and it's partners for intensifying the fight against fistula

Freedom from fistula in collaboration with UNFPA is implementing a three-year project called empowering empowering women with obsteric fistula to ensure access to quality obsteric fistula care and social reintergration in nkhotakota with funds from the government of Iceland.