…..Foundation, UNFPA empower 50 VVF survivors in Adamawa
The Adamawa Government, in collaboration with Fistula Foundation Nigeria (FFN), with support
from UN Population Fund (UNFPA) rehabilitated, trained and empowered 50 survivors of Visicovaginal Fistula (VVF) in Adamawa.
The Director of FFN, Dr Musa Isa, said during the graduation ceremony of the 50 women in Yola on Wednesday that services rendered were free of charge.
He listed the services to include surgery, medications, skills acquisition training and provision of empowerment kits.
He said that the survivors underwent four months of skills acquisition training in tailoring, goat farming, extraction of groundnut oil, among other skills.
He urged them to be ambassadors of fistula by sensitising pregnant women on the importance of antenatal and dangers of prolonged labour.
He called for a law to deal with any husband who neglected or divorced his wife as a result of fistula problem.
Mrs Rifkatu Gwandi, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, appreciated UNFPA and the state government over their support for the successful surgery, training and empowerment of the survivors.
Represented by the Director, Rehabilitation, Gwandi advised the survivors to take advantage of the kits given to them to succeed in life.
Fatima Raji, representing Federation of International Women Lawyers Association (FIDA), urged the public to report cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) to ensure justice for survivors.
Hapsat Mustapha, a beneficiary who spoke on behalf of the survivors, thanked and appreciated the state government and the UNFPA “for saving our lives.”
The empowerment kits include grinding machines, sewing machine, goats, wrappers, groundnut and maize for popcorn production.
VVF, also called fistula, is an abnormal opening between the bladder and the vagina that results in continuous and unremitting urinary incontinence.
The only way to fix VVF is with surgery to close the opening but sometimes, additional procedures are needed to correct the original cause of the problem, such as damage to the bladder.
Surgery to correct VVF is generally successful.
…..Foundation, UNFPA empower 50 VVF survivors in Adamawa
