By Johnbosco Agbakwuru
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CALABAR – NO fewer than 18 indigent women who have been suffering from Vesico Vagina Fistula, VVF, had their fistula repaired at the VVF centre Ogoja, Cross River State.
The United States Agency for International Development, USAID in collaboration with the Cross River State Government at the weekend inaugurated the Ogoja centre of VVF at the Ogoja General Hospital in Ogoja Local Government Area of the State.
The VVF scourge, which arises as a result of complications during childbirth, is the occurrence of abnormal hole between the bladder or rectum and the vagina that is characterized by continuous and uncontrollable leakage of urine.
Speaking with joy over the repair of her fistula, a 42-year-old widow, Mrs. Mary Ezan, who said she had carried the ailment for over five years, said she catered for herself and her three children all through the period she had the problem.
Apart from not having the opportunity to continue with her farming, Ezan said she was left in isolation in her husbands’ family compound in Obudu, Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State.
She said, “I have been carrying the scourge for five years. I had the problem as a result of complicated pregnancy. I had delayed childbirth and unfortunately I lost the baby in the process. It was after that sad experience that I started urinating uncontrollably. I actually started the labour at home but was later taken to the hospital.
“Nobody was looking after me in my compound; I was left alone to cater for myself and children. Our people are wicked, if you do not have someone behind you nobody looks at your face.”
She however with happiness said, “It was a Good Samaritan that identified my problem and came to my compound to bring me here. It was God’s directive.”
She stated that at a time while in hospital, she had opted to die on many instances as she had no hope of surviving financially after the repairs, but the health workers kept encouraging her even after the surgical repairs had been carried out.
Another repaired patient, Mrs. Paulina Alolo (50) from Bebuabong Village in Obudu Local Government Area said her church members and close relatives rallied around her for the 10 years she moved around with the scourge.
Her church members donated money for her to start petty business and also arranged for her to get treatment at the VVF centre in Ogoja.
She said, “I carried this aliment for 10 years before I got treatment. This ailment arose as a result of complications during childbirth. When I got this problem my relatives and those of my husband were relating freely with me. It was my maternal auntie and my church that took special care of me. Although I was a farmer, I stopped farming. As a result of this situation, my church members met and raised money for me which am used in started petty trading business in from of my house.
Speaking during unveiling of the VVF project, the Country Manager, Fistula Care Project of USAID, Chief Iyeme Efem, said the Fistula centre which is the ninth to be established with the support of the international agency, was meant to repair Fistula clients in Cross River State and beyond.
Hesaid there were 150, 000 backlog of Fistula cases in Nigeria, with 12, 000 cases emanating yearly. “Unfortunately, the facilities available all over the country can only treat 4, 000 cases annually,” he lamented.
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