The Minister for Women Affairs, Suleiman Ibrahim, has announced plans to provide rehabilitation, reintegration, and reunification for 80 survivors of Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) in Katsina State.
This initiative is part of the ongoing efforts by the Federal Government and ECOWAS to address the needs of women and girls suffering from obstetric fistula across Nigeria.
The announcement was made during a town hall meeting on Tuesday in Katsina, where Ibrahim’s speech was read by Iliyasu Zubair, the ECOWAS Focal Person.
In her address, Ibrahim acknowledged delays in the program since the establishment of the coordination committee in 2011 but reassured that concrete steps are now in place to fully implement the Fistula project.
The project includes the training of 50 fistula surgeons, with 25 to be trained at the National Obstetric Fistula Centre in Babbar-Ruga, Katsina, and another 25 at the Fistula Centre in Calabar, Cross River State.
These surgeons will focus on repairing and managing cases of obstetric fistula in women and girls.
The project also aims to clear a backlog of 100 obstetric fistula patients, with surgeries scheduled at the Babbar-Ruga Centre.
Additionally, needs assessments will be conducted for 80 fistula patients in Katsina, and efforts will begin to rehabilitate and reintegrate the survivors to improve their quality of life post-treatment.
Expressing gratitude for ECOWAS’s continued support, Ibrahim emphasized the importance of collective efforts between the government, stakeholders, and citizens to ensure the project’s success.
Musa Adamu Funtua, the Katsina State Commissioner for Health, represented by Dr. Abdulrashid Yusuf, also commended the efforts of the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre for its role in providing medical treatment and fostering understanding for fistula survivors.
Nura Murtala, the Permanent Secretary at the State Ministry of Women Affairs, praised the ongoing efforts to advance the rights of women and girls and urged stakeholders to continue their support.