The Fistula Foundation Nigeria on Tuesday, said no fewer
than 1.2 million women and girls were suffering from Obstetric Fistula (VVF) in
the country.
Malam Musa Isa, the founder and executive director of the foundation,
said this in Dutse during the graduation of 108 rehabilitated obstetric fistula
patients in the state.
Isa said that the foundation had from 2014 to date,
rehabilitated a total of 408 VVF patients in the state.
He explained that obstetric fistula is a devastating
condition brought about by child birth injury caused when a woman surfer prolonged
or difficult labour, without obtaining the right medical attention.
The executive director added that the baby usually dies and
the woman is left not only without her child but also with a hole or fistula in
her birth canal, resulting in chronic incontinence.
“It is estimated that there are between 400, 000 women and
800, 000 girls suffering from this condition in Nigeria and the vast majority
are in the northern part of the country, including Jigawa.
“We recognize this as a major problem and has planned to
work with Jigawa state government through the ministries of health and women affairs
to improve the lives of women affected by this condition,” he said.
According to him, the foundation in collaboration with the
two ministries, have improved the lives of the fistula women through three
pronged activities (prevention, treatment and social reintegration).
Isa pointed out that the foundation’s intervention to
rehabilitate and reintegrate the 108 victims of obstetric fistula in 2017,
focuses on the category of those who suffered the most extensive obstetric
trauma up to the level of incurability.
He added that during the three months rehabilitation, all
the women had the opportunity to learn various communication techniques so that
they may educate the community on the causes of obstetric fistula.
The executive director the gesture was also to reduce
stigmatization and all forms of isolation from family and the community with
economic empowerment training in skills acquisitions.
According to him, their capacity was also built in raising
awareness, conducting surveillance, mobilization and following-up on repaired
patients in their respective communities.
“I wish to therefore call on the government of Jigawa state
to make free fistula care services a priority.
“So on behalf of fistula foundation, I wish to all the
graduating women a very successful reintegration into their various
communities,” the executive director said.
~NAN
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