Number of VVF cases reducing, says expert

The matron of the Family Life Centre, a specialised medical facility at Itam near Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, Maria Obot says the number of Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF), cases, an abnormal opening between the bladder and vagina is reducing following the sustained advocacy, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation offered by the centre.

Obot who spoke in an interview in her office as part of activities to mark the World VVF Day said the centre has also carried out advocacy the training of survivors and equipping them with skills and resettling them back in their communities.

Describing VVF and its twin, Rectum Vesicovaginal Fistula (RVF) as serious ailments resulting in the leakage of faeces and urine as a result of injuries during child birth and sometimes from congenital defects, said as part of the advocacy, the centre has carried an awareness campaign to communities with more than 30 survivors to mark the day set aside to raise awareness on the health condition.

“The numbers are reducing, we are doing a lot of awareness, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation to ensure safe birth to all and an end to VVF, it is my hope that the numbers will continue to reduce, ” she said.

“These women continue to leak urine, faeces , it is difficult for them to get rid of the odour, some cannot to go markets, churches and some of them have sores, ” she stated.

Obot who said it is improper to blame the patients said specialists from outside the state are often invited to join resident experts during “pool efforts,” to carry out surgeries and repairs adding that the centre has also carried out the training of its health personnel while paying glowing tribute to Ann Ward, a foreign medical missionary of Mary Sisters who pioneered reconstruction VVF and RVF work in the state.

According to her, some of the women go into depression due to the health condition adding that some of the injuries occur during child birth especially when handled by unskilled attendants.

Obot who is a reverend sister and a member of the Medical Missionaries of Mary Sisters said the centre decided to work with Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) to train them to detect difficult cases, to refer such cases to hospitals adding that VVF and RVF occurs in mostly with girls at very young ages but that centre has received women of all age ages.

“Our joy is when we see patients who came to the centre depressed and sad but leaving looking pleasant and happy after being treated and fully recovered explaining that some of them continue to live a normal life even having babies after a while.”

According to her survivors are always advised to have their children by cesarean section as vaginal child birth could reopen the wounds

She lauded groups and individuals as well as the Fistula Foundation for the support extended to the centre while also commending the federal government through the National Health Insurance Agency NHIA) for providing free surgeries to VVF and RVF.

“We are grateful to groups and individuals that have supported us because we cannot this work alone adding that patients are giving transport fares back to their communities’ after treatment through the support of the NHIA.

Also thanking Governor Umo Eno for constructing more health centres across the state, he urged him to continue to equip the centres with facilities as well as employ qualified health personnel to enable women in the rural centres to have safe birth to put a stop to VVF and RVF in the state.