Niger gov’s wife conducts free operations on 250 VVF women

From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna.

The wife of Niger state governor and founder of RAiSE Foundation, Dr Amina Abubakar Sani Bello has commenced t fee operations of Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) patients in the State.
So far the initiative has operated about 250 VVF patients in the last three years.
She made the disclosure yesterday while speaking to journalists during the operations of another set of 50 women for surgery at the general hospital, Kontagora.
“We do a VVF camp every quarter, where we get women who have the problem and bring them here and do the surgery for free.
“So far we have done a total of 206 from the time we first started and we are hoping to add another 50 this time around.
“We don’t do this on our own as we are in collaboration with Sani Bello foundation and Mainstream Foundation,” she added
Dr Amina explained that the women were usually operated on by herself and fistula surgeons from Kebbi, Kano and Katsina, adding that it cost an average of N150, 000 to operate and rehabilitate one patient.
She decried lack fistula surgeons here in Niger State hence had identified a doctor who would soon to be trained in that aspect of operation in the State.
Mrs,. Amina advised women to seek the services of skilled birth attendants during pregnancy to eradicate the disease.
The wife of the governor decried the increasing level of stigmatization against women suffering from VVF, adding that it was hindering a lot of them from coming out to seek treatment.