Adamawa State Joins Foundation To Screen 50 VVF Survivors For Rehabilitation

Fistula Foundation Nigeria (FFN), in collaboration with Adamawa Ministry
of Women Affairs and Social Development, has screened 50 survivors of Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) for three months rehabilitation, training and empowerment.

The Director and Founder of the foundation, Dr Musa Isa, said this at a news conference at the end of the screening on Thursday in Yola.

He said that “the programme is supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).”

He said that the VVF survivors are to acquire skills, and be equipped with sewing and grinding machines, wrappers and a take off grant to venture into businesses for self-reliance.

Isa explained that they were also going to be taught food vending, dyeing, making of local pasta, soap making, perfume and cosmetics production.

He said said that the empowerment scheme is to create jobs and promote self-reliance among the VVF survivors.

The FFN director stated that VVF “is an abnormal congenital opening between the bladder (vesico) and the vagina
that causes continuous involuntary discharge of urine into the vaginal vault.

“It is often caused by prolonged labour, especially for teenage mothers during childbirth and can also be as a result of violent rape of minor.”

“Some women had special cases that needed further evaluation and advanced treatment,” he said.

According to him, patients of VVF cases in the state have been receiving free medical treatment and rehabilitation.

He added that government embarked on massive public sensitisation and awareness campaigns to curb problem of
discrimination and to make husbands accept their responsibilities toward their affected wives.

NAN/ Mercy Chukwudiebere