800,000 women affected by VVF annually in Nigeria — UN

The United Nations Fund for Population Activities
(UNFPA) on Saturday said about 800,000 women
suffered from Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) annually
in Nigeria.
The Country Representative of the fund in Nigeria,
Ratidzai Ndhlovu, disclosed this at the graduation
of 100 rehabilitated women living with obstetric
Fistula in Sokoto.
Ndhlovu, represented by Dr Audu Alayande,
Assistant Country Representative, Reproductive
Health, said one in every 10 women suffered from
this condition following childbirth.
Ndhlovu, who donated assorted empowerment
materials worth N2.3 million to the graduands, said
most women who developed fistula had probably
given birth at home with no assistance from skilled
birth attendant.
“For this group of women, everyday, they must
cope with the foul smell emanating from their
leaking urine and faeces,” she added.
She lamented that most of the affected women
often lose their babies following child birth
process.
“In the same vein, these women down with VVF
were often abandoned by their husbands,
stigmatized by families and communities, and later
ostracized.”
She said the graduands had received a two-month
training in sewing and knitting, petty trading and
grinding machines operations, among others.
She said the items given to them would help them
to be productive and useful to themselves.
“This gesture is aimed at helping their
reintegration process back into the society and
reduce their stigmatization,” Ndhlovu said.
The Permanent Secretary, state ministry for
Women and Children Affairs, Suleiman Sarkin-
Fulani, commended UNFPA for the gesture.
Mr. Sarkin-Fulani said the state government had
staffed and equipped Maryam Abacha Hospital,
which hosts VVF Centre to enable it take care of its
patients.
He appealed to other donor agencies, partner
organizations and wealthy individuals to assist in
treating and rehabilitating VVF patients.
Musa Isa, the Executive Director, Nigeria Fistula
Foundation, urged the beneficiaries to desist from
selling the items given to them.
One of the graduands, Balki Saidu, commended the
fund for rescuing them from the “shackles of
poverty”.
(NAN)