EDO FREE VVF Surgeries: Beneficiaries Urge More Women To Take Advantage Of Initiative

Habiba Ibrahim-Sam

BENIN CITY

Beneficiaries of the free Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) surgeries carried out at the clinic set up by the First Lady of Edo State, Mrs Betsy Obaseki ,have  called on sufferers of the disease to take advantage of the initiative and end their ordeal.

The women made the call recently when they were visited by the first lady at the Edo Specialist Hospital after the conclusion of their surgeries.

One of the ladies who had suffered the ordeal for 19 years said: “I have had this problem for about 19 years, it started in 2003. My friend heard from someone that was operated upon from our village and informed me. I came to Edo Specialist Hospital and I was enlisted and operated upon without paying one Naira. I want to encourage every woman out there that is having VVF whether in Edo State or not to come. It is free.”

One beneficiary counseled women not to ignore doctor’s advice to undergo caesarean session during delivery when necessary.

She narrated: “In my own case what really happened was that I went for a scan and an x-ray and they told me that I could not deliver normally. But after putting heads together the doctors decided to try normal labour for 4 to 6 hours. They said if the baby does not come out I will have to go for cesarean section. During that period the baby came out but then I had a tear that led to rectovaginal fistula.”

Another who suffered the disease for two years said that she encourage every woman out there that was having this kind of issue whether in Benin City or not to come out for treatment

“You will come here with your challenges and will not go back the same way because they really do the work. No money is required, it is totally free,” she assured.

She appreciated the first lady for this initiative that was giving them a new lease of life saying “I am really grateful to Her Excellency Betsy Obaseki for this program. It is helping a lot of women today. Initially when it started, I never knew it would come to an end. But I am fine now and I am really grateful to Her Excellency for this”.

The VVF Clinics set up by the Edo State First Lady at the Edo Specialist Hospital and the Stella Obasanjo Hospital in Benin City, undertake free surgeries and are open to women from within and outside of Edo State.