- Ibrahim Abubakar
The North East Development Commission (NEDC), in collaboration with Fistula Foundation Nigeria has flagged off free surgery for no fewer than 100 women with Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) problems in Bauchi State.
Speaking at the official flagged off of the Free Fistula Repair Campaign Project (FFRCP) in Bauchi and Northeast State, Hon Commissioner for Health Bauchi, Dr Sabir Ahmed, thanked NEDC and other development partners for the repair.
Ahmed who was represented by Director Medical Services, Robeson Yusuf, said the repairs compliments government effort towards provision of health care services to its people.
He said, “This intervention is timely, as most women who are vulnerable due to ignorance and the persistent poverty have fall victims to VVF and would benefit from the corrective surgery project”.
He appealed to the beneficiaries to take the medical advice giving to them by medical personnel to enable them to have total healing, and be reporting back to the hospital for medical check-up, as and at when due.
In his address, Mr Musa Yashi, Executive Director, Humanitarian Affair NEDC said, statistics indicate that bout 2,000 women in the North East were suffering from VVF cases.
Yashi who was represented by Dr Batulu Isa Mohammed, Head of Health services NEDC advice women to be attending antenatal regularly so that they can prevent the courses of VVF.
He further stressed that the plight of these unfortunate women, who experienced obstetric fistula, is a very lonely one and dejecting.
“It is, therefore, important that all efforts are made to bring succor to this vulnerable group of women to enable them pick the pieces of their lives by offering them a new lease for meaningful existence within their respective communities”, she said.
Yashi, noted that corrective surgery for women suffering from obstetric fistula is the First and most important step that would give them hope of recovery, improve their mental state and affords them the freedom to relate well with their families.
He commended the management of the National Obstetric Fistula center Ningi Bauchi particularly the resident fistula surgeons and nurses, who promised to continue monitoring the repaired women for 12 weeks to ensure their complete recuperation and the attainment of the final outcome expected for each patient.
Dr Halima Mukaddas, Medical Director National Obstetric Fistula center Ningi, Bauchi said the centre is always ready to provide such services and assured to do their best for successful recovery of the patients.
She pointed out that due to increasing cases of obstetric fistula among women folk in the region, the center is looking at a possibility to reduce the number of VVF Cases in the North-East.
She also expressed happiness over the free surgery and thanked NEDC and other development partners for the gesture.
