Adamawa gov’t, foundation empower 50 rehabilitated fistula survivors
Story from Usman IBRAHIM, Yola
The Adamawa State Ministry of Women Affairs in collaboration with the Fistula Foundation with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on Thursday graduated and empowered 50 rehabilitated fistula survivors in Adamawa.
Dr Musa Isa, Director of the Foundation appreciated the support by the state government and urged for more support and collaboration for more people to benefit from the gesture in the state.
He said during the previous exercise, the foundation intended to provide free surgery for 50 women but was provided with only 30-bed space and over 70 patients came to access the service.
Isa called on the beneficiaries to make use of the starter packs given to them and urged them not to sell as they would be monitored.
In her remarks, the wife of the state governor, Hajiya Lami Fintiri, thanked and appreciated the contributions of UNFPA for impacting positively the life of women in the state.
The first lady represented by Mrs Lami Ga’anda, Commissioner Ministry of Women Affairs, said UNFPA has helped women in Adamawa in so many ways.
“The only thing to say is to pray for the UNFPA’s Programme officer in Adamawa for the concern for women, we pray that God rewards you”, she said.
She urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the starter packs and skills acquired during the training.
Mrs Ulla Mueller, UNFPA’s Resident Representative in Nigeria, said that the beneficiaries had undergone four months of skills acquisition training for them to have something doing.
Mueller represented by UNFPA’s Adamawa programme officer, Dr Danladi Idrissa also appreciated the donors for supporting their initiatives.
According to him, the donors supported the foundation in conducting the exercises in Bauchi, Sokoto, Kano, and Adamawa and the second batch will come up in 2023.
“Fistula is a very serious problem and over 800,000 women are living with fistula problems today in Nigeria.
“In Adamawa since 2015 the UNFPA supported through the foundation conducted surgical repairs of 265 cases out of which 235 were perfect and healed”, he said.
Cross section of the beneficiaries thanked and appreciated UNFPA for the free surgery, feeding, transport, training, and starter packs which include sewing machines, grinding machines, wrappers, and cash among others.