Clement Nnachi, Abakaliki
No fewer than 2,800 patients afflicted with Vesico Vagina Fistula ailment (VVF) have been repaired free at the National Obstetrics Fistula Center, in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State since its establishment in 2011.
In a similar vein, a total of 1,000 women suffering from Prolapse have been treated free within the period under review.
Medical Director of the hospital, Associate Prof. Johnson Obuna, made the disclosure at the Center on Friday while briefing newsmen on the prospects and programmes of the hospital from 2011 till date.
He said that the Center was equally recognised as National Center for Cancer Screening and Treatment
“2,800 patients were operated and repaired since we started, we operate an average of 15 Fistula patients per month”
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Dr. Obuna describes Fistula as a delicate ailment that results to continuous leakage of urine from the vagina of a woman after delivery of a baby.
“National Fistula Center screen men who have prostrate cancer/prostrate enlargement. we have Mamograph Machines for screening women of Breast Cancer.”
The Medical Director outlined the objectives and core values of the Center to include training of manpower, treatment of women with Fistula, Research, rehabilitation and prevention of Fistula cases.
“The Hospital authorities goes to villages and communities to fish out patients afflicted with Fistula ailment for treatment at the hospital free of charge”
Prof. Obuna solicited for Assistance from International Donor Agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to complement the funding of the Federal Government .
The Medical Director restated that the Center expends a total of N700,000 for the feeding of Fistula patients on monthly basis.
Dr. Obuna commended the Ebonyi State Government for its assistance to the Center irrespective of its being a Federal Health hospital.
Contributing the Head of Mobilisation of the Center, Dr Henry Uro Chukwu, said that the country has three Fistula Centers located in Abakaliki, Katsina and Bauchi, respectively.
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Dr Uro Chukwu expressed reservations that the financial support earlier granted by United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to the Center has stopped.
“At inception the drivers came from UNFPA to the Center, as at now the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to the Center has stopped.
In attendance at the briefing were the Director of Administration at the Center Mr Anthony Oko, Director of Finance Mr Emmanuel Afoke, and the Head of Social Mobilisation Dr Henry Uro Chukwu.
It would be recalled that the National Obstetrics and Fistula Center Abakaliki was established in 2011 as the pet project of the wife of the former Governor of Ebonyi State Mrs Josephine Elechi .
The Federal Government later took over the management of the Center and it metamorphosed to the National Obstetrics and Fistula Center Abakaliki.
