NGO, UNFPA to sponsor operation for 1,000 VVF patients in Bauchi

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA),  in collaboration with National Fistula Centre, Ningi, will sponsor an operation on 1,000 women suffering from Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF). The operation is being supported by the Canadian government. Speaking during the presentation of items to the management of National Fistula Centre in Ningi  the programme coordinator, Musa Isah […]

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA),  in collaboration with National Fistula Centre, Ningi, will sponsor an operation on 1,000 women suffering from Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF).

The operation is being supported by the Canadian government.

Speaking during the presentation of items to the management of National Fistula Centre in Ningi  the programme coordinator, Musa Isah said that the items where donated to help the centre to take care of the women suffering from VVF.

“We brought the items for the VVF patients under the UNFPA in collaboration with the Canadian government. They directed us to bring the items to the VVF centre in Ningi in order to help the patients for their operations and recovery.

“VVF patients across the nation are going to benefit from the programme. The centre is a federal establishment and people come from almost all parts of the country for treatment. Therefore, what we brought is to be used to treat the patients regardless of where they come from,” he said.

He said that, he hoped to see that the items donated used for the treatment of the women suffering from VVF at the centre.

Isah disclosed that they had also donated similar items in Sokoto and other places adding that they are ready to bring more medical items that would take care of 1000 patients before the year runs out.

“We are planning to see that before the end of this year, the centre is able to perform operations on 1000 VVF patients. We will also bring donations of medical items and consumables to another hospital in Bauchi State that is taking care of VVF patients.

“Gamawa General Hospital has already been selected and UNFPA, in collaboration with the Bauchi State Ministry of Health, will train doctors and nurses on ways to treat and provide care for VVF patients.

According to him, they have also planned to embark on an awareness campaign across the nooks and corners on ways to prevent VVF.

“There is a special programme in which, we will go into the nooks and corners of the state in order to meet with stakeholders, like communities and religious leaders in order to educate people to have a better understanding of VVF, what causes it and how to seek medical attention or prevent it.

“Our hope is for people to have a better understanding of VVF before the time for this programme runs out. We want them to have an understanding of the causes and ways to prevent and treat it. This will help husbands to help and support their wives or other members of their family by bringing them to VVF centres so that, they can be tested free of charge.

The programme coordinator advised husbands, whose wives are suffering from VVF, to be close to them and give them material and psychological support instead of neglecting and leaving them to their fate.

He also hoped that a programme would be initiated to provide skills acquisition training for VVF patients that were operated on in order to help them improve their economic status and become self-reliant and also help them overcome the rejection and stigmatisation they suffer.

Receiving the items, the Medical Director, National Fistula Centre Ningi, Dr Umar Nasiru Ibrahim, who was represented by the Head of Administrations, Dahiru Adamu Bello, commended UNPF and the Canadian government for donating the medical consumables to the centre in order to help women suffering from VVF.

“We really appreciate the gesture by UNFPA and the Canadian government for donating these items. The items will help a lot in carrying out operations on our VVF patients to help them recover.

“There is no doubt the items will help a lot because they came at a time when they are needed most. As you can see, we are already carrying out operations on some of the patients, so  we are very grateful for what you have done.

Dr Ibrahim, therefore, called on women suffering from VVF to come to the centre so that they can have an operation free while praying that, their husbands will give them maximum cooperation to overcome the trauma they suffer as a result of  their condition.

About 20 VVF patients were instantly operated upon using the items while the others are waiting for their turns.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, one of the patients, who was operated upon, commended the UNFPA, the Canadian government and the management of the centre for coming to their aid and treating them free or charge.