The Kaduna State Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) Centre at Gambo Sawaba General Hospital, Zaria, conducted free fistula repair surgeries on 63 patients between January and September 2022.
Dr Ado Zakari, the Director of Medical Services in the state’s Ministry of Health, made this known in an interview with Newsmen in Zaria.
Zakari, the only surgeon at the centre, said that the feat was possible because of the consistent support from the state government and other stakeholders.
He said that UNFPA supported the procurement of surgical consumables and post operation drugs and supplies for management of the VVF cases.
Zakari said that the centre has the potential of conducting 312 fistula surgeries annually with a dedicated surgeon and steady supply of surgery consumables.
He described VVF, commonly known as obstetric fistula as “a hole between the vagina and rectum or bladder.”
It is caused by prolonged obstructed labour leaving a woman with uncontrolled urine, faeces or both.
According to Zakari, the rate of success, which stands at between 85 to 90 per cent, is changing the narratives of the survivors as some of the husbands who rejected them now accept and support them.
He explained that most of the patients were hitherto deserted by their husbands and some close relatives.
Zakari, however, said that husbands now accompany the patients to the facility following the successes of the surgeries.
“We hardly record recurrence of VVF after repair because we track the survivors to see what they are doing and ask them to report to us when they become pregnant.
“We link them to the nearest primary healthcare facility for antenatal care and ask them to come to the centre when the pregnancy is seven months- old.
”This is to enable them continue the antenatal care until delivery through a caesarean section,” he stated.
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