Health: Vesico Vaginal Surgical Repair Camp Begins in Kebbi State.
The Executive Governor of Kebbi state H.E. Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu has paid a visit to the ongoing Vesico Vaginal Fistula repair camp being held in Birnin Kebbi. The camp spearheaded by Extended hands foundation an NGO led by top International Nigerian Actress Stephanie Linus Okereke is collaborating with the Kebbi state Government via the Ministry of Women Affairs and the Wife of the Governor Dr Zainab Bagudu to repair at least 50 cases of Vesico-Vaginal Fistulae. The surgical camp starts today on 5th March and ends on 12th March 2017 is holding at the VVF Center in Gesse, Birin-Kebbi.
His Excellency immediately ordered all supporting
medications should be provided by the Ministry of Health. On his entourage were commisioner of health Alh Kambaza and Perm Secretary Women Affairs Haj Halima Dikko.
VVF is a highly distressing and stigmatizing condition which manifests with urine leaking into the vagina without control.
VVF results from prolonged labour and is a reflection of poor maternal and antenatal care. Other related causes are early marriage, malnutrition and genital mutilation.
The Medical Director of the Kebbi centre Dr Abubakar Dakingari said many women affected by the condition were from remote villages that lacked roads and functional healthcare facilities.
The Kebbi VVF centre championed by the Wife of the Governor Dr Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu carry out regular awareness activities to educate the people about the ailment, especially among teenage girls giving birth for the first time. Closely linked to this are advocacy activities on education, early marriage and provision of nutritional support. The Kebbi state government rehabilitates treated patients by providing skills training and then empowers them with relevant equipment. This includes sewing, knitting, soap making, and domestic food processing. This act helps the reintegration process of the women into the society.
The Extended Hands Foundation,
an NGO, carried out similar camp last year 2016, where 50 patients were successfully repaired.
The organisation, established by a
Nigerian actress, Mrs Stephenie
Linus works with International partners such as UNFPA and Save the Children.
Project Manager of the Extended hands, Chinedu Omorie said the
Foundation sponsored the surgery
to enable the victims to live
normal lives.
He added that “the founder of the
organisation, who is an actress, is
passionate about the issue of VVF
and the trauma faced by victims
and she is ready to
assist the women by producing a
movie titled “DRY” to further
enlighten them on the ailment.
