In a move to improve the maternal health, the United Nations Population Fund and the Fistula Foundation of Nigeria with support from the Norwegian government, have successfully repaired 45 patients with Vesicovaginal Fistula in Sokoto State.
The Executive Director of FFN, Dr. Musa Isa, disclosed this during an interaction with journalists in Sokoto on Wednesday.
VVF, a condition marked by an abnormal opening between the bladder and the vagina, results in continuous urinary leakage. Though preventable and treatable, the condition has devastating effects on affected women.
Isa revealed that a team of specialists, led by Dr. Sa’ad Idris, conducted the surgeries at the Fistula Repair Centre located within Maryam Abacha Women and Children Hospital, Sokoto.
According to him, the week-long exercise, which ran from December 2 to December 9, initially targeted 50 patients from different parts of the country but was limited to 45 due to inadequate bed spaces and substandard equipment.
He commended the Federal Government, the Sokoto State Government, and UNFPA for their support in the initiative aimed at alleviating the plight of fistula patients.
During the programme, an officer from the Family Health Department, Federal Ministry of Health. Betty Amukpo criticised the poor condition of the hospital environment and its inadequate facilities.
“The hospital is too dirty and lacks the infrastructure and equipment needed to attract specialized doctors for exercises like this. From the entrance, the premises fail to meet the standards necessary to encourage specialists to work here,” Amukpo lamented.
She called on the Sokoto State Government to prioritize upgrading the hospital’s infrastructure and facilities to ensure the centre is conducive for specialized medical procedures.
Lead Surgeon, Dr. Sa’ad Idris, emphasised the need for holistic maternity care, extending beyond free Cesarean Section services to address the root causes of VVF.
“Eighty per cent of fistula cases are due to poorly performed Cesarean Sections and repeated surgical procedures. Free CS services should be carried out by properly trained specialists,” he said.
He advocated for strengthening maternal health services, including transportation, improved road networks, reliable electricity in health facilities, adequate remuneration for health workers, and availability of medical consumables.
“Complete maternal health services must be prioritized, from empowering families to make informed decisions to ensuring safe delivery procedures,” he added.
Idris further called on medical practitioners to show more interest in fistula care, noting that a shortage of trained personnel has hindered fistula services across the country.
Meanwhile, some beneficiaries of the free surgeries expressed their gratitude for the intervention.
They recounted the years of physical and emotional pain they endured before receiving the life-changing treatment, expressing hope for a return to normal life.
SOURCE PUNCH NEWS
