VVF survivors, others laud UNFPA, Kaduna govt

The husband of a Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) survivor and some beneficiaries of the free VVF surgery in Kaduna State say they now have a new lease of life after the exercise.

Speaking in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Tuesday, the beneficiaries said that the support had given them a chance to live a normal life again.

NAN reports that VVF, commonly known as obstetric fistula, is “a hole between the vagina and rectum or bladder.”

This is caused by prolonged obstructed labour, leaving a woman with uncontrolled urine, faeces or both.

The husband of the survivor and resident of Tudun Nupawa, Malam Abubakar Musa, thanked the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Kaduna State Government for making his wife whole again.

“I thought my marriage would collapse when my wife developed the condition because I could not bear the constant and uncontrolled urination.

“I almost gave up on her before someone told me that there was a chance she might be cured at the VVF Centre located at Gambo Sawaba General Hospital, Zaria.

“Today, I am a living witness that the condition will not only be cured but a survivor will live a normal life again,” he said.

Musa told NAN that his wife was able to deliver a baby boy in August through a caesarean section, adding that the mother and the baby were doing well.

“All I can say is thank you UNFPA and thank you Kaduna State Government for giving my wife a chance to be normal again,” he said.

Musa’s wife, Fiddausi, 20, said that she lost her first child to prolonged labour that created the problem, adding she lost all hopes of having a child again due to the VVF condition.

“But today I am a proud mother. God has smiled on me through UNFPA and the Kaduna State Government,” she said.

Another survivor, Asma’u Zubairu, 22, from Saminaka, Lere Local Government Area of the state, told NAN in Zaria that she was referred to the centre by a family friend who said she would be treated.

Zubairu, who recently had the repair surgery, said that she was worried that her life would never be the same again after she had the condition.

“The condition is not what I will wish for even my enemy.

“But thanks to the free surgery supported by UNFPA, I am recuperating and will soon be united with my family and continue with my life” she said.

Sharing similar experience, Hussaina Mammu from Lere said she had her repair surgery within two weeks of admission at the centre.

Mammu who said she was getting better day by day, expressed the hope for a better future.

“We are well cared for in the centre, in fact, some of our family members do not treat us as well as we are being treated and loved in this place.

“I had my repair surgery already and I have been empowered with the training on knitting.

“I am just waiting to get better so I can go back home to my family and live a productive life,” she said.

(NAN)

VVF survivors, others laud UNFPA, Kaduna govt