By UCHENNA UGWU

No fewer than 30 Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) patients have been successfully discharged from the National Obstetric Fistula Centre (NOFIC) in Abakaliki following free surgical repairs.

“The intervention, held on Saturday, was organised by Ebonyi State Governor’s wife, Mrs Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

“VVF is a serious medical condition involving an abnormal connection between the bladder and the vagina, often leading to continuous urine leakage and causing significant physical and psychological trauma.

The governor’s wife represented by Mr Kelechi Mbam, a member of her pet project Better Health for Rural Women, Children and Internally Displaced Persons Foundation (BERWO), described the successful discharge as a restoration of dignity for the affected women.

She pledged further assistance for the rehabilitated women, including financial grants to help them reintegrate into society and rebuild their lives.

Mrs Nwifuru also emphasised the goals of her programme, which included enrolling pregnant women into the state health insurance scheme to prevent complications during childbirth.

She advised the discharged patients to abstain from sexual intercourse for six months and strictly follow medical advice to aid recovery and prevent complications.

Commending the NOFIC management and staff, she applauded their commitment to improving women’s healthcare in the region.

In his remarks, Prof. Johnson Obuna, Medical Director of NOFIC, expressed gratitude to Gov. Francis Nwifuru, his wife, and the UNFPA for their continued support in providing free VVF treatment in the South East.

Obuna was represented by Dr Emmanuel Yakubu, a surgeon at NOFIC.

Team members of the foundation, Mr Godwin Nwogha and Mrs Nwakegu Igboke, urged pregnant women to always register at qualified hospitals to avoid complications caused by poor surgical practices and obstructed labour.

Former patients Blessing Okemili, Clementina Nnaenwelu, and Alice Kalu from Ebonyi, Imo, and Abia States respectively, shared their experiences, expressed gratitude to the government for the medical and financial support.

They vowed to comply with medical instructions for full recovery. (NAN)