By MU'AWUYA B. IDRIS
The concern by the united Nations Fund for
Population activities (UNFPA) and subsequent initiative to prepare towards
the repairs of 500 vesico virginal fistula (VVF) patient through the
untiring effects of the funds in Katsina, which is coming at a most crucial
period when many people are facing tough times due to economic hardships
particularly rural dwellers, is a highly welcome idea that can not be
precedented.
VVF is an unfortunate stigma that affects Women
particularly the younger ones among them whose pelvis has not grown strong
enough as to deliver of a child, thus when there is any complication during
child birth by such a woman, there is the tendency that she develops a
fistula learned continue to pass urine without control and sometimes the
urine may combine with stool and come out without control by the patient, a
condition referred to as Rectovirginal fictula (RVF).
The fund has in Katsina through its state
adviser, Alhaji Sama'ila Bala Baba been expressing its concern particularly
over the attitudes of either patients, relations or husbands of the affected
young women most of whom fall victim of the disease in their early maturity
age, when they are also considered to be sexually active but unfortunately
they are treated as outcast by the same society that puts them into their
sad predicament which sometime last them for a life time.
This condition which they face is to a very
large extent why such women turn to destitution and sometimes in a desperate
move to survive and make life meaningful and also to reduce the constant bad
urine which sometimes mixes with that of feices, they indulge into
prostitution with some of them coming to town even during day time to meet
customers whose number is always on the increase without any thing being
done to stop it, as sometimes the VVF patients sneak out of their hospital
wards to go and chase for men who are willing to pay them.
Some other times, the patients come out at
night around the VVF Babbar Ruga Hospital, which is located at the outskirts
of Katsina metropolis to meet such un-cultured men who turn the area a
boosting market place for prostitution at a token fee. Such contacts with
unknown men can likely lead to the VVF patients acquiring other diseases in
addition to their current situation, more especially with the increasing
HIV/AIDs disease ravaging our societies.
It is therefore very important that all members
of the society should come together and join hands with the UNFPA to help in
curbing the trend and to assist the patients in whatever ways possible in
order to give the patients a sense of belonging in their respective
communities.
At the moment the UNFPA has selected and
trained 10 nurses and 3 doctors in the area of VVF repairs by selecting such
medical personnel's from Kano, Katsina and Sokoto states which after the
UNFPA's exercise will continue to complements the giant efforts of the
principal consultant of the VVF hospital in Babbar Ruga, Dr. KEES hospital
who has been carrying out such repairs throughout the country and the
neighbouring countries of Niger and Cameroun.
As part of the plan on the VVF patients by the
UNFPA, a total of 500 patients are expected to be repaired as disclosed
recently in Katsina by the state's Adviser, Alhaji Sama'ila Bala Baba. He
also revealed that already the government of Katsina state had commenced the
renovation of the hospital and UNFPA will provide all necessary theatre
equipments including beds, mattresses and all other required pain relievers
to the hospital before the 500 repairs which is expected to be carried out
in the first quarter of next year.
Already a team of medical experts under the
arrangement of the UNFPA have been to the Babbar Ruga Hospital, in Katsina
from New York, in preparation to the campaign and repairs where also the
need for the establishment of a VVF rehabilitation center was also discussed
and agreed with the Katsina state government agreeing to establish the
center to be located opposite the VVF hospital, Babbar Ruga, Katsina, along
Batsari Road under the supervision of the state Ministries of Health, and
Social Development, Women, Youths and Sports.
Similarly the campaign on the awareness of the
VVF scouge which is expected to be launched in Katsina because of the
significant role the state plays in the VVF repairs, is also hoped to be
kicked off by the nation's Minister of Health in the first quarter of next
year.
It is therefore pertinent for women, parents as
well as religious leaders to have more knowledge on the diseases and also
know the role they are supposed to play towards the reduction of maternal
and infant mortality rate.
The UNFPA and government organs alone cannot
save the lives of everyone which is even why voluntary and non-government
organisations are being involved in the improvement of family lives.
Official indices have revealed that a rate of
between 800 and 1500 per 100,000 women cases of maternal mortality rates is
recorded every year in Katsina state alone and this record is only for cases
recorded at the government hospitals at a time when many people find it hard
to patronize these health facility providers such as the hospitals and
moreover, most of the rural dwellers who form a large number of the
communities are the ones vulnerable.
Under its continued efforts to safeguard the
lives of particularly women and children the UNFPA in its 5 Country program
will dole out the sum of 5 million U.S. dollars which is equivalent to about
N8billion in addition to the supplies of equivalent and contributions from
Japanese and Canadian governments to carry out various reproduction health
programs in the 3 states of Katsina, Kebbi and Sokoto for the improvement of
family lives and speedy economic growth which must 'be reported by all and
sundry as we are all stakeholders.
M.B. Idris is the Katsina State Editor of the
Triumph.
