The Daily Monitor (Addis Ababa)
By Rose Mestika

ADDIS ABABA — The International Society of Obstetric Fistula Surgeons (ISOFS) held its first annual meeting in Addis Ababa from September 15-16, 2008.

The conference was organized in collaboration with the Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, Johnson and Johnson, UNFPA and other partners.

The Secretariat of ISOFS, Dr. Biruk Tafesse said the participants, medical practitioners discussed on issues of training with a main theme of “Trained human power for quality Fistula care.” In addition to that scientific papers were also presented on fistula issues at the two day meet.

The conference also discussed and endorsed a final draft of the constitution, which was prepared by the ISOFS. According to the secretariat, the final draft includes national and international legal codes, professional ethics, standardization of practice, regarding memberships and other issues.

“Even if we don’t have the exact figure of the Fistula cases in Ethiopia and also in the world because it is hidden, its estimated that around 25,000 fistula cases are existing in Ethiopia. In addition to that eight to nine thousand delivery end up in fistula,” Dr. Biruk told The Daily Monitor.

ISOFS established before a year with the objectives of ensuring a high standard of obstetric fistula care services in the world, playing advisory role in treatment, prevention and research pertaining to obstetric fistula and its squeal.

Specialists in the field of fistula were gathered from different countries including USA, Nigeria, Bangladesh, and Uganda and attended the first annual meeting in Addis Ababa.