800,000 women affected by VVF annually in Nigeria - UNFPA NAN-H-16 Fistula

NAN) The United Nations

Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) on

Saturday said about 800,000 women suffered

from Vesico Vaginal Fistula ( VVF) annually in

Nigeria.

The Country Representative of the fund in Nigeria,

Ms Ratidzai Ndhlovu, disclosed this at the

graduation of 100 rehabilitated women living with

obstetric Fistula in Sokoto.

Ndhlovu, represented by Dr Audu Alayande,

Assistant Country Representative, Reproductive

Health, said one in every 10 women suffered from

this condition following childbirth.

Ndhlovu, who donated assorted empowerment

materials worth N2.3 million to the graduands,

said most women who developed fistula had

probably given birth at home with no assistance

from skilled birth attendant.

``For this group of women, everyday, they must

cope with the foul smell emanating from their

leaking urine and faeces,'' she added.

She lamented that most of the affected women

often lose their babies following child birth

process.

``In the same vein, these women down with VVF

were often abandoned by their husbands,

stigmatized by families and communities, and

later ostracized.''

She said the graduands had received a two-

month training in sewing and knitting, petty

trading and grinding machines operations, among

others.

She said the items given to them would help

them to be productive and useful to themselves.

``This gesture is aimed at helping their

reintegration process back into the society and

reduce their stigmatization,'' Ndhlovu said.

The Permanent Secretary, state ministry for

Women and Children Affairs, Alhaji Suleiman

Sarkin-Fulani, commended UNFPA for the gesture.

Sarkin-Fulani said the state government had

staffed and equipped Maryam Abacha Hospital,

which hosts VVF Centre to enable it take care of

its patients.

He appealed to other donor agencies, partner

organizations and wealthy individuals to assist in

treating and rehabilitating VVF patients.

Malam Musa Isa, the Executive Director, Nigeria

Fistula Foundation, urged the beneficiaries to

desist from selling the items given to them.

One of the graduands, Balki Saidu, commended

the fund for rescuing them from the ``shackles of

poverty''. (NAN)