UN Population Fund (UNFPA) on Thursday distributed economic strengthening equipment to 75 Visco Viginal Fistula (VVF) survivors in Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
Ms Deborah Tabara, UNFPA Programme Officer in the state, stated this during the inauguration of the distribution exercise at the National Fistula Center (NOFC), Ningi.
Tabara said the gesture was to provide alternative means of livelihood to the VVF survivors and facilitate their integration into the society.
She said that the UN agency had adopted proactive measures to enhance access to quality fistula care in Bauchi State through the provision of essential medical equipment and services.
She listed the intervention to include provision of repair kits, furniture and consumables to the fistula centre in Ningi and the General Hospital, Gamawa.
The programme officer said that television sets were also provided at the centre as part of psychosocial support to clients on admission at the centre, adding that UNFPA equally trained healthcare workers on specialised management and prevention of VVF.
While appreciating its partners such as the Federal Credit Union Foundation and Global Affairs Canada for funding the programme, Tabara commended the management of the center and the Ningi Emirate Council for their support.
In his remarks, Mr Musa Isa, Executive Director, Fistula Foundation of Nigeria (FFN), said the survivors received a six-month training on tailoring to enable them to engage in productive activities.
Isa said that the foundation was an implementing partner of the UNFPA, and provided transportation as well as feeding allowances to the survivors during the training exercise.
“UNFPA provided fund for the training of the survivors in tailoring and agricultural practices.
“We also identify VVF patients in various communities across the nation and refer them to fistula center to access care services,” he said.
He enjoined the beneficiaries to ensure effective utilisation of the equipment by engaging in productive activities and urged them to be advocate of reproductive health in their communities.
According to him, effective monitoring mechanism has been evolved to guard against diversion of the equipment.
Also speaking, Mr Hassan Mahmud, Chairman, Ningi Local Government Council, lauded the UNFPA for providing free healthcare services to VVF clients.
Mahmud said that the empowerment programme would contribute to poverty reduction and wealth creation in the society.
Mr Adamu Toro, Head of Nursing, NOFC Ningi, said that the management planned to upgrade the facility to enhance quality healthcare service delivery, especially VVF care and management.
Toro said that the center accept and treat VVF clients from across the country, and charged community leaders to create awareness on the need for the expectant mothers to attend antenatal services to curb VVF among women.
For her part, Ms Hajara Gidado, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Child Development, stressed the need for a multi sectoral approach to ensure total eradicatio of VVF in the state.
Gidado, represented by Aliyu Mohammed, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, reitrated the state government commitment to end all forms of gender based violence in the state.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Rashida Sani, commended the UNFPA, FFN and other partners over the fistula repair and empowerment support to the survivors.
Sani said that they would use the equipment to uplift their living conditions.
