The Sokoto State Government has promised to pay the dowry to any man ready to marry any woman resident in the state who has been successfully treated of Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF).

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Balarabe Kakale, disclosed this at the Ministerial Press Briefing organised by the state ministry of information in Sokoto on Sunday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the briefing was organised in collaboration with the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

Kakale said that the state government’s gesture was aimed at dispelling insinuations that women affected by VVF and successfully treated were not marriageable.

He said: “The Vesico-Vaginal Fistula Hospital at Maryam Abacha Women and Children Hospital, Sokoto, was established to treat VVF cases.

“The VVF cases in the state are drastically reducing due to intensive public enlightenment on the causes of the health problem.

“In the period under review, 287 women, who were hitherto afflicted by VVF, were successfully operated.

“The state government is in collaboration with the UNFPA and the Acquire Fistula Care Project, to reduce VVF cases in the state.”

The commissioner also disclosed that the government had instituted a N25, 000 prize for any person who reported any case of guinea worm in the state.

Kakale said: “Anybody who reports any case of the disease will instantly get the money in reward.

“This gesture by the state government is part of efforts to reduce the prevalence of the waterborne disease.” (NAN)

•Photo shows Governor Tambuwal.