Health
FOLLOWING free treatment supported and coordinated by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA Nigeria), some survivors of Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) in Sokoto State have been charting new course of
life and starting afresh.
The survivors expressed their happiness over the Fund’s intervention on their plight and the free VVF repair surgery in an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto on Sunday.
They said that the free surgery enabled them to begin new lives and achieve their goals.
NAN reports that VVF is an abnormal opening between the bladder and the vagina that results in continuous and unremitting urinary incontinence.
The condition is among the most distressing complications of gynecologic and obstetric procedures, but can be reversed and repaired through surgery.
The common causes of VVF are obstructed labour, early marriage, poverty, and women’s limited control over the use of family resources.
The condition can cause a lot of discomfort, and if left untreated, it may cause serious bacterial infection, which may result in sepsis, a dangerous condition that can lead to low blood pressure, organ damage or even death.
NAN reports that the Maryam Abacha Women and Children’s Hospital established in 1997 by the Sokoto State Government is a dedicated VVF Treatment Centre.
The hospital conducts routine and special VVF surgery in piecemeal, giving women and girls a new lease of life, enabling them to go back to their normal lives.
Dr Bello Lawal, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) told NAN that the hospital receives patients from all parts of country, including neighbouring countries.
He said at least 150 to 200 women receive free VVF surgery from the hospital every year, with support from UNFPA Nigeria and other collaborators.
UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency with the mission to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.
Lawal added that under UNFPA and other partners’ support scheme, the hospital’s theatre was refurbished and equipped, the VVF patients’ ward was renovated, while antigens, consumables and other treatment supports were provided.
According to him, UNFPA and other partners’ interventions also led to the establishment of another VVF treatment centre at Goronyo General Hospital in the eastern part of Sokoto State.
Lawisa Sani, a 23-year-old VVF survivor from Geza village in Kamba Local Government Area of Kebbi, said she contracted VVF after her first child delivery and received free treatment at the Goronyo hospital.
Sani said that after three years of surgery, she still visits the hospital for fellow up “and I have now recovered, ready to remarry.
“Life became difficult for me after the death of my father and divorced by my husband because of VVF.
“However, with free repair surgery and support from UNFPA, I have started
a small-scale business in my community for daily upkeep. I thank UNFPA and partners for the support.’’
Another VVF survivor, 15-year-old Azima Isiya from Dankurmi village in Gumi Local Government Area of Zamfara, said she benefitted from the free surgery in September.
Isiya said she was married off at age of 13 years and started running urine (Fistula) after her first child delivery at Bena Hospital in Zuru Local Government Area of Kebbi.
She said “my condition was disturbing, I couldn’t control urine before but now I feel relieved after the surgery.
“I want to urge women and girls living with the condition to come to the hospital as no money was collected from me and others and we enjoyed encouraging words from the medical workers.
“I am recuperating now but I feel much better and when I fully recover, I will return to my husband’s house, interact with my relatives and engage in social and economic activities in my village.’’
Another survivor who said she has now recovered fully, Hadiza Yusuf from Gandi village in Raba Local Government Area of Sokoto State, said she received free VVF surgery in April and came to the hospital for follow-up.
Yusuf, 51, said she contracted VVF after her 10th child birth, adding that the nine child deliveries were in her village and safe.
She said she had complications during the 10th child birth and was transported to Gandi village health post, where she spent hours before giving birth, which resulted to VVF.
She added that “I learnt of the free VVF treatment from those that suffered from the condition before so I went to the Maryam Abacha Women and Children’s Hospital Sokoto, where I got registered.
“I have been operated on and I am happy now that I have become normal; I want to thank UNFPA and others that supported me to overcome this dehumanising condition.’’
A’isha Sa’idu, 18, from Bena village in Zuru Local Government Area of Kebbi is another VVF survivor who told NAN on her hospital bed that she was unable to control urine after her first child birth in 2021.
Sa’idu said her husband is a farmer and among those that suffered bandits’ attacks and the situation affected him economically and he could not sponsor her treatment.
She said that she was first treated at Bena village, but when she got the information of the free treatment in Sokoto, she decided to register, “and thank God I feel much better now.
“I thank the UNFPA and other collaborators for the free treatment. I wish to return to my village and continue with my groundnut cake making business because it is lucrative.’’
Meanwhile, Murjanatu Aliyu, the mother of 13-year-old VVF survivor, Rakiya Aliyu, told NAN that the daughter contracted VVF during childbirth after a local barber carried out the traditional cutting of unwanted flesh from her vagina called Yankan Gurya.
She added that it was after the cutting that she continued to leak urine without control and without medication until some relatives forced the father to bring her to the Maryam Abacha Hospital, Sokoto, for the free repair surgery.
The free surgery has helped many VVF survivors to overcome social, physical and socio-economic challenges.
After the surgery, survivors go through counselling to overcome the stigma often attached to the condition, and also go through capacity building to start a trade or business and be supported with the wherewithal to start and sustain the business.
The efforts are to help the women and girls to reintegrate into the society.(NAN)
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Tags: UNFPA Vesicovaginal Fistula
