No fewer than 800, 000 women are currently suffering from Virginal Fistula, Ms Ratidzai Ndhlovu, Country Representative of the United Nation’s Population Fund/Fistula Foundation Nigeria (UNFPA), has revealed. Ms Ratidzai, while speaking yesterday in Sokoto at the Mariam Abacha Women and Children Hospital, also known as VVF Center, lamented that, one in every 100 Nigerian women suffers the scourge of VVF, adding that, the country accounts for 40 per cent of world-wide fistula burden. “In Nigeria, it is estimated that one in 100 women suffers from this condition, following childbirth, and about 800, 000 women affected. For this unfortunate group of women, every day, they must cope with the foul smell emanating from their leaking urine and faeces. “Beyond the agony of missing their baby following difficulty in child birthing process they experience, some of these women are often abandoned by their husbands, stigmatized by families and communities, and later ostracized,” Ndhlovu said. Ndhlovu was represented by Dr Audu Alayande (assistant representative, Reproductive Health) of UNFPA. The event was organised by UNFPA in collaboration with Sokoto State government and the state Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. While divulging that, UNFPA Nigeria has a long term goal of ending obstetric fistula in the country, Ms Ndhlovu informed that, UNFPA will collaborate with relevant stakeholders to ensure prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration of women with fistula. Hundred rehabilitated fistula graduates, who were taught diverse skills to make them self- reliant were given tools worth N2.3 million, which included, 71 sewing machines, and 21 grinding engines, while eight other VVF patients were given consumable goods to start up petty businesses. Earlier, the chief medical director (CMD), Mariam Abacha Women and Children hospital, Sokoto Dr, Abubakar Gada called on well-meaning Nigerians to undertake such humanitarian gestures, adding that, the society can only be better with a healthy population.
No fewer than 800, 000 women are currently suffering from Virginal Fistula, Ms Ratidzai Ndhlovu, Country Representative of the United Nation’s Population Fund/Fistula Foundation Nigeria (UNFPA), has revealed. Ms Ratidzai, while speaking yesterday in Sokoto at the Mariam Abacha Women and Children Hospital, also known as VVF Center, lamented that, one in every 100 Nigerian women suffers the scourge of VVF, adding that, the country accounts for 40 per cent of world-wide fistula burden. “In Nigeria, it is estimated that one in 100 women suffers from this condition, following childbirth, and about 800, 000 women affected. For this unfortunate group of women, every day, they must cope with the foul smell emanating from their leaking urine and faeces. “Beyond the agony of missing their baby following difficulty in child birthing process they experience, some of these women are often abandoned by their husbands, stigmatized by families and communities, and later ostracized,” Ndhlovu said. Ndhlovu was represented by Dr Audu Alayande (assistant representative, Reproductive Health) of UNFPA. The event was organised by UNFPA in collaboration with Sokoto State government and the state Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. While divulging that, UNFPA Nigeria has a long term goal of ending obstetric fistula in the country, Ms Ndhlovu informed that, UNFPA will collaborate with relevant stakeholders to ensure prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration of women with fistula. Hundred rehabilitated fistula graduates, who were taught diverse skills to make them self- reliant were given tools worth N2.3 million, which included, 71 sewing machines, and 21 grinding engines, while eight other VVF patients were given consumable goods to start up petty businesses. Earlier, the chief medical director (CMD), Mariam Abacha Women and Children hospital, Sokoto Dr, Abubakar Gada called on well-meaning Nigerians to undertake such humanitarian gestures, adding that, the society can only be better with a healthy population.
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