UNFPA, Sokoto Empowers VVF repaired patients on livelihood skills

The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has supported the Sokoto State Government on the training and empowerment of 100 survivors of Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF). Presenting working tools to graduates on Wednesday, Ms Loide Amkongo, the UNFPA Head of Kaduna Sub-Office, urged the beneficiaries to utilize the items in supporting their lives and family members.

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Amkongo said that the training and distribution of start-up packs were meant to improve VVF Survivors living conditions in recognition of their vulnerability after the free treatment.

She also said the efforts would facilitate reintegration of VVF survivors back to their respective communities and further commended the government’s commitment towards supporting vulnerable women across the state.

Amkongo said that women and girls with this type of disability were often abandoned by their husbands and isolated from the community due to the smell and associated shame of urine leakage.

The Permanent Secretary, Sokoto State Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Hajia A’isha Dantsoho, urged the beneficiaries to rededicate themselves to the businesses in their localities.

Dantsoho said that many rehabilitated VVF women had excelled in their businesses after similar training and were empowered to sponsor marriages of their children.

She charged them not to be distracted with VVF challenges they have encountered in the past and consider themselves normal in the society.

The Chief Medical Director of Maryam Abacha Women and Children Hospital which runs the VVF treatment centre, Dr Bello Lawal, said the treatment and empowerment were a life support which would assist the lives of survivors.

“VVF is an abnormal opening between the bladder and the vagina that results in continuous and unremitting urinary incontinence. The entity is one among the most distressing complications of gynecologic and obstetric procedures,” Lawal said.

He said that the common causes of VVF include obstructed labour, early marriage, poverty, and women’s limited control over the use of family resources.

The medical director said that the situation was treatable and curable, adding that there is hope for every VVF including the inoperable cases which needed specialist attention.

Lawal urged the survivors to adhere to stipulated medical advice as well as utilize the empowerment tools properly to bolster businesses.

NAN/Wumi