SOURCE: All Africa
About 200,000 women in Nigeria are living with Vesicular Vaginal Festula (VVF) complications, Dr Habibu M. Sadauki, country project manager of the Festula Care Plus Project, said yesterday.
Dr. Sadauki stated this yesterday in Kano, while presenting a paper at a meeting with media practitioners. He said the Northwest has the highest number of patients followed by the North-east, noting that 12,000 cases of VVF are being received annually at 13 different centers across the country.
Saduaki lamented that when compared to the last five years, the number of sufferers is on the increase.
He noted that only 5,000 out of 12,000 women living with VVF are receiving treatment due to insufficient manpower, resources and equipment at the designated facilities.
He attributed the increase of VVF cases in the country to ignorance and lack of commitment on the part of government and the community in general.
"In Kano State, only 15-20 per cent of pregnant women deliver their babies in hospitals, while 75 per cent deliver at home. This development can cause VVF. At the moment, the state records about 15 cases per week," he said.
Sadauki assured that if Nigeria can eliminate prolonged labour, the problem of VVF can be addressed in the country.
"We need to sensitise our women on the importance of registering for ante-natal and post-natal care. We also need more manpower and facilities at VVF designated centers," he said.