We provide Instant breaking news alerts and information about the day's most talked-about stories around Nigeria, Africa and the world trending news.
50 fistula survivors rehabilitated, empowered in Adamawa
Adamawa State ministry of women affairs in collaboration with Fistula Foundation with support from United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA) has rehabilitated and empowers no fewer than 50 fistula survivors in Adamawa.
The survivors were also given starter packs including sewing machines, grinding machines and cash during the ceremony to mark the end of their four months intensive training in various vocations.
Speaking at the ceremony on Thursday in Yola, Wife of the state governor, Hajiya Lami Fintiri thanked all development partners for the wonderful contributions in addressing the plight of the survivors.
She particularly lauded UNFPA for impacting positively on the life of the survivors and women in general in the state over the years.
Fintiri who was represented by Commissioner Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs Lami Ga’anda said, “I am in short of words, honestly UNFPA has helped women in Adamawa in so many ways, I don’t know the words that I can use to appreciate them.
“The only way to say is to pray for the UNFPA’s Programme officer in Adamawa for his concerns on women, only God can pay him back”, she said.
She urged the beneficiaries to make use of the skills acquired during the training and make use of the starter packs given to them urging them not to sale them.
In her remarks, Mrs Ulla Mueller, UNFPA’s Resident Representative in Nigeria, said that the beneficiaries have undergone four months training aimed to acquire skills for them to have something doing.
Mueller who was represented by UNFPA’s Adamawa programme officer, Dr Danladi Idrissa also appreciated the donors for supporting their initiatives.
“They supported us in Bauchi, Sokoto, Kano and now they supporting us in Adamawa, this is the first batch and we are going to have the second batch next year”, he said.
Related Posts
According to him, Fistula is a very serious problem and over 800,000 women are living with the health challenge in Nigeria.
Idrissa added that in Adamawa since 2015 UNFPA supported through the foundation has conducted surgical repairs of 265 cases out of which 235 were perfect and healed.
The program officer encouraged the survivors to have confidence as should not despair as there is life after their tragedy just as he urged pregnant women to go for antenatal services.
“And please make use of the skills acquired to succeed in life, assist the family and take good care of yourself”, he said.
Dr Musa Isa, Director Fistula Foundation appreciated the support by the state government and urged for more.
According to him, during the previous exercise the foundation intended to provide free surgery for 50 and were provided with only 30 bed space in which over 70 patients came to access the service.
He said that the foundation would monitor the beneficiaries after six months whoever sale the starter kits out would not be considered for any other assistant.
Aisha Umar, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries thanked and appreciated UNFPA and other partners for the free surgery, feeding, transport, training and the provision of the starter pack.
She promised to use the skills acquired and the starter packs to empower themselves and the families.
