The Women's Bureau in collaboration with UNFPA has recently organised a day's sensitisation workshop on reproductive health for vegetable growers in Janjangbureh, Central River Region south.

In his opening remarks, the National Assembly member for Janjangbureh Constituency, Foday Jibani Manka, said the importance of the sensitisation cannot be over-emphasised as it will help to create awareness on reproductive health for vegetable growers. He advised the participants to take active part in the sensitisation exercise. The district chief, Bakary Jam Jawo, thanked the organizers of the sensitization for such an important forum and expressed hope that the sensitization will help to improve awareness for vegetable growers on reproductive health.

The Women's Bureau regional programme officer, Amadou Cham, urged the participants to disseminate what they have learnt during the course of the sensitization, adding that "together we can continue to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities".

The officer-in-charge of Janjangbureh Health Centre, Banna Jobarteh, pointed out that poverty, malnutrition; poor health services, early child bearing and gender discrimination are interlinked root causes of obstetric fistula. He further asserted that poverty is the main social risk factor, that it is associated with early marriage and malnutrition.

Cham then explained that poverty reduces women's chances of getting timely obstetric care.  Child bearing before the pelvic is fully developed, as well as malnutrition, small stature and general poor health, he went on, are the contributing physiological factors to obstetric labour.

Manding Jawara, a participant, thanked Women's Bureau for providing them with a vegetable garden, noting that this is will improve their nutritional and health status, as well as increase their income.