By JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
There is hope on the horizon for some women and girls who suffer from a medical condition called Vesico-Vaginal Fistula (VVF) or Obstetric Fistula as Bashir Foundation for Fistula and Women’s Health (BFFWH) and Fistula Foundation US and Fistula Centre, Gwarimpa General Hospital joined forces to help them.
This collaboration recently saw 20 women and girls who were in Abuja from different parts of the country through all-expenses-paid life-changing surgeries.
The collaboration is not just offering free surgeries to women and girls in this category, it is also offering them skill acquisition to make them self-reliant economically.
VVF is a medical condition where there is an abnormal opening or hole between the bladder and the vagina, causing urine to leak uncontrollably into the vagina.
According to medical experts, this condition can be caused by prolonged obstructed labour, pelvic surgery, or other medical conditions.
It is a serious health issue that affects many women, particularly in developing countries, and can have significant physical, emotional, and social consequences if not treated.
The Bashir Foundation had Launched ‘Project Fix’ a flagship initiative aimed at providing life-changing surgical repair and advocacy for women suffering from obstetric fistula.
The project, funded by the United States Fistula Foundation, hopes to support 140 free surgeries at key partner hospitals in Abuja, Kaduna and Zamfara.
Speaking at the facility a few days into the intervention, the Executive Director of Bashir Foundation, Mrs Barakat Adewale, said the collaboration was working in favour of the vulnerable patients.
She said that everything the successful patients need is provided including their feeding, drugs and transportation.
This is the only facility that offers this service free of charge here in the Federal Capital Territory.
“We have about 20 patients currently. We have more than that but we told them to go and possibly come back for next quarter pull effort.
“At the moment, we are offering them skill acquisition so they can be economically okay afterwards”, she said.
The Chief Program Officer of the US Fistula Foundation, Lindsey Pollaczek, said her organization is an organization based in the US with a mission to eradicate suffering caused by Obstetric Fistula across the world.
She added that her organization has been working in Nigeria for 15 years and has supported over 16,000 surgeries.
She added that the organization is currently working with seven partners, including the Bashir Foundation.
The focal Person for VVF, Gwarimpa General Hospital, Mrs Habiba Saliu, noted that the hospital has achieved a 100% success rate in its recent mass obstetric fistula surgeries.
She said the hospital management, surgeons and nurses, are deriving satisfaction in helping affected women and girls.
“The hospital, which is currently providing free surgery and care for patients, hopes to make this facility a routine one for obstetric fistula treatment”, she said.
Some of the benefitting women and girls thanked the collaborating organizations for coming to their aid when there was no hope.
“I’ve been in this situation from birth”, decried a young woman (name withheld) who came to Abuja from Zamfara for the surgery.
With the first free VVF centre now available inside Gwarimpa General Hospital, more women and girls who are currently suffering neglect, stigma, and abandonment will have the opportunity to leave their wet lifestyle for the dry lifestyle every woman desires.
