Group provides medical support to 300 VVF patients in Gombe
By Ben Ngwakwe, Gombe
A vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) is an uncomfortable and potentially distressing condition that causes continuous urinary leakage from the vagina but this opening that develops between the bladder and the wall of the vagina usually doesn’t hurt but the result is that urine leaks out of the vagina and it causes some problems that need medical care.
Investigations revealed that many areas of the World, unrepaired VVF is a significant health problem with estimated that at least three million women worldwide live with unrepaired VVFs, and between 30,000 and 130,00 women receive a diagnosis each year.
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In developed countries, the condition is rare where women have access to reproductive healthcare unlike a situation with limited access to healthcare is more pronounced and is more common in those areas hence, it becomes a tale of two worlds: one in which women have access to healthcare when they deliver babies, and one in which they have little to no access.
Also, in high income countries, VVF is a preventable and highly treatable condition while in low and middle income countries, VVF can be a life changing, stigmatizing catastrophe for millions of women.
It is because of this life- threatening phenomenon that a Non-Governmental Organisation known as Evangel Vesico Vaginal Fistula of Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos in partnership with St. Luke’s Mission Hospital which was initiated by the Primate of All Nigeria, Anglican Communion, His Grace, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba when he was the Bishop of Gombe Diocese at Bolari in Gombe over 18 years ago are offering the free surgical and treatment services in the state.
This NGO is holding their Biennial Stakeholders’ Meeting for the prevention and treatment of obstetric fistula in Gombe state on 8th August, 2022 in Gombe. The Evangel Vesico Vaginal Fistula Centre has been providing free surgical treatment services to women with Vescio-Vaginal Festula (VVF) and Recto-Vaginal Fistula (RVF) for thirty years now.
The Centre will provide preventive, rehabilitation and re-integration services to over 10,000 women and girls including women and girls with disability.
It is noted the CBM Global has been supporting Evangel VVF Centre, Jos and in 2020, it awarded a three years (2020-2022) project tagged “comprehensive Women’s Health Project”, for the Prevention and treatment of Obstetric Fistula in Gombe and Taraba states and the project is being implemented in Gombe by ECWA Evangel VVF Centre, Jos in partnership with St. Luke’s Mission Hospital, Gombe.
According to the Project Director, Associate Professor Sunday Lengmeng, MBBS, FWACP, MPH said that the project included advocacy to Government and relevant stakeholders; Capacity developments, Enlightenment and Sensitisation in Communities, Churches and Mosque through Health Workers and Selected Fistula Champions. Review Meetings with Stakeholders and Free VVF/RVF medical/ Surgical outreaches for women and girls leaking urine or stool at St. Luke’s Mission Hospital, Bolari, Gombe while Rev. Richard Chigbo Aronu told Periscope Nigeria that for the past three years of the free surgical and treatment of VVF that over 300 women have benefitted from the programme excluding treatment and other services provided by the organisation in the state.
