Mrs Frederica Enyonam Hanson, UNFPA Country Midwifery Adviser, on Thursday called on expectant mothers to seek early medical care before and after delivery, to avoid Obstetric Fistula complications and maternal mortality.

She noted that some expectant mothers develop complications like obstetric fistula because they did not attend the hospital or antennal clinic during pregnancy and after delivery.

Mrs Hanson made the call at a graduation ceremony in Cape Coast, organised by the Gratis Foundation in collaboration with the UNFPA for 25 Fistula treated and trained women in the Central Region.

The women underwent three-months training in soap making, batik and tie and dye dressmaking, confectionary and pastry making as well as business management, marketing and customer care and packaging.

Mrs Hanson said the UNFPA has taken the challenge to campaign against fistula and also to give vocational training for patients because most of them are rejected by their families and friends which makes it difficult for them to make a living.

Mr Alhaji Abubakar, Regional Project Coordinator of UNFPA said the programme started in the Northern part of the country where more than 54 women suffering from fistula were treated and trained in vocational skills.

Mrs Caroline Tsikata, a vocation trainer said a “a woman with economic power brings out the best in her family".

She asked the women to educate their counterparts that fistula could be treated and appealed to their families not to stigmatise them.

The women were awarded certificates and given working capital and equipment as start-up for their businesses.