Fistula
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Fistula Foundation of Nigeria (FFN) supported by Nowegian government, have offered free surgeries to 45 Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) patients in Sokoto state.
The Executive Director of FFN, Dr Musa Isa, disclosed this to the Newsmen on Wednesday in Sokoto.
Neesmen reports that VVF is an abnormal opening between the bladder and the vagina that results in continuous and unremitting urinary incontinence.
It is an uncomfortable and potentially distressing condition, however, it is a preventable and treatable condition through surgery.
Isa said that a team of experts led by Dr Sa’ad Idris conducted the surgeries at Fistula Repair Center located at Maryam Abacha Women and Children Hospital in Sokoto.
He said 50 patients were targeted for the exercise which had started on Dec. 2 and ended on Dec. 9, had patients from different parts of the country.
He commended Federal and Sokoto State Governments as well as UNFPA for their respective supports on the success of the programme which was aimed at bringing succour to fistula patients.
Speaking also, Mrs Betty Amukpo, Officer from Family Health Department in the Federal Ministry of Health had decried on the poor condition of the hospital environment and the facilities.
” Hospital is too dirty and lacked infrastructures along with equipment to make it habitable for specialised Doctors to come to Sokoto for similar exercise.
” Since from the gate, the premises was not encouraging based on standards of attract Specialists, there is need for state government to upgrade the infrastructures, equipment and facilities of the hospital, ” she said.
She explained that her responsibly was to supervise the exercise, stressing that Federal Government collaborates with FFN and others to train Fistula Surgeons and offer free treatment to Nigerians across the country.
The Lead Surgeon, Dr Sa’ad Idris, has emphasised the need for holistic maternity care beyond free Cesarian Section (CS) to women in the country to tackle cases of VVF.
He lamented that 80 per cent of women currently living with fistula are due to poor Cesarean Section and repeated surgical procedures.
” I am calling for the expansion of the system to encompass free comprehensive maternity healthcare to reduce mortality rate.
“This is because we are bit scared in fistula circle, as CS shouldn’t be considered free in total, it should be conducted by specialised trained persons.
“Not every CS is successful, some encounter complications, recording deaths or end-up with fistula.
“Many persons engaged to conduct the procedure, at times, may mishandle patients that require specialised care, ” he said.
Idris, former Commissioner for Health in Zamfara and International Fistula Surgeon Trainer, underscored the importance of conducting safe CS, adding that “cases of fistula resulting from poor CS is alarming.”
He explained that complete maternal health services should be strengthened; from promoting decision making by families, transportation of patients, enhancing road networks and electricity in health facilities, renumeration of health workers and consumables.
He enjoined medical doctors to cultivate interest in fistula care, stressing that the dearth of manpower had impacted fistula services in country.
Some of patients that benefited from the free surgeries expressed appreciation over the gesture as they spent years faced with different form and other of challenges before the free treatment and expressed hope to return to Norman living.
Newsmen reports that Doctors have limited to number of surgeries to 45 due to non availability of bed spaces and standard equipment to cater for more patients in spite of many awaiting VVF patients at the hospital.
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