The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is
assisting the technical expertise of Nigerian physicians in the repairs of
damaged fistula.
The organisation has brought three renowned
urologists from France to treat women with damaged fistula, or suffering from
vesico-vaginal fistula (VVF), and also train Nigerian physicians on the repairs
of damaged fistula.
The three French urologists are, Prof. Alain Le
Duc, a Professor of Urologist at a university in Paris; Dr. Claude Dumurger and
Dr. Ludovic Falandry, both retired from the French Army.
While in Nigeria, the three experts will oversee
the operations of 150 women suffering from VVF and impact their knowledge on
doctors in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
UNFPA acting Representative, Dr. Eugene Kongnyuy,
while speaking to the press during the flag off of VVF repairs in Maiduguri last
Tuesday, disclosed that the French medical experts would repair damaged fistula
of women in Borno State and assist in impacting their knowledge on local
doctors.
Kongnyuy, who disclosed that the exercise would be
on for two weeks, said the campaign is being supported by Canadian Government
and Korean International Cooperation
Agency (KOICA) aimed at eliminating fistula and improving access to maternal
and child healthcare in the state.
He stated that about 150,000 women are currently
living with fistula in the country, noting that with improved maternal care,
this would be over.
He said: “So if we have sound health system where
women are coming for labour, we will minimise the fistula. In developed world,
we don't have fistula anymore; it has been completely eliminated but in Nigeria,
we have close to 150,000 women who are currently living with fistula.
"They don't have face to smile in their life,
and the only way to bring back the smile is to do surgical operations. I can
bet you we can prevent fistulas if our health system is functioning well."
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