The Wife of Katsina State Governor, Hajiya Zulaihat Radda, has appealed to the general public to support the patients of Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) in the state.

Mrs Radda made the appeal on Saturday at the graduation ceremony of rehabilitation and skill acquisition training of 46 treated VVF patients in Katsina.

The VVF patients were treated and trained by the National Obstetric Fistula centre Babban Ruga, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.

She reiterated the need for the volunteers, NGOs, traditional and religious leaders, companies and wealthy individuals to also join hands to support them.

“This support can be through donations, or to taking care of some of the patients and the hospital’s needs, because the hospital is not a profit-making organisation.

“But it was established to provide the VVF patients with the needed treatments and also skills training for them to establish business of their choices after being discharged.

“I wish to inform you that through my office, I have a programme which is mainly to support children, girl child education and also women with special needs.

“Also, we have a health programme that supports our women and children in the state,” the governor’s wife said.

She assured of her readiness to collaborate with the hospital and also the VVF patients training centre to help the patients.

She expressed delight over the fact that  the hospital is not only meant to treat VVF patients, but to also provide antenatal care for them.

“Therefore, I am calling on the people of the state to utilise this opportunity and the facilities provided,” she called.

Earlier, the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Sadiya Mamman-Nasir, said the treated VVF ladies were trained in sewing, knitting, shoe/bag making, pasta making among other things.

According to her, the primary functions of the centre are free treatment of patients with obstetric fistula, rehabilitation of treated patients, prevention of recurrence and centre for training and research.

“The centre provides free fistula care to VVF patients from the North-West geo-political zone. It also receives a sizable number of patients from other zones, as well as neighbouring Niger Republic,” she said.

Mamman-Nasir said that in spite of paucity of fund,  the centre still treats about 400 VVF patients yearly.

“However, due to paucity of funds, the centre could not rehabilitate the large number of patients being treated and operated on daily.

“Hence, the centre approached the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, who facilitated the release of a special grant by the Federal Ministry of Finance for the rehabilitation activities.

“Consequently, 50 repaired VVF patients are to be rehabilitated quarterly in the year 2023.

“Trainees are fully accommodated at the centre, feeding of three square meals, cleaning and training materials as well as take up packs are provided to them free of charge,” she disclosed.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor’s wife presented each of the beneficiaries with  cash and a clothing material (Atamfa).

The repaired VVF clients were also empowered by the centre, with sewing machines, knitting and grinding machines, pasta making and sharpening machines.

NAN