UNFPA to refurbish fistula repair centre in Borno

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in collaboration with Korean and Canadian Governments, is to “refurbish and equip” the obstetric fistula repair centre in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

The Korean Government (KOICA International) has already donated $5 million (N1.8 billion) to complete three-year fistula repair project on Reproductive and Maternal Health (RMH) in the state.

UNFPA Acting Representative in the country, Dr. Eugene Kongnyuy disclosed this on Sunday in a statement released in Maiduguri. He said that the project on RMH services was to support humanitarian activities in Borno state for three years.

Eugen, in the statement, also said: “Meanwhile another support provided by KOICA International is hospital equipment, which the head of delegation will hand over to the Government of Borno State at the State Specialist Hospital Maiduguri.

“This fistula repairs project will put a lot of smiles of faces women and girls, as the remodeled and equipped Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) repair centre, are giving back dignity to our women in Borno.”

VVF is an abnormal fistulous tract extending between the bladder and the vagina that allows the continuous involuntary discharge of urine into the vaginal vault.

On 12-day campaigns against fistula, he said: “UNFPA’s flagging of fistula campaigns in Borno state was made possible by the Canadian government, which renovated and refurbished as well as equipped the obstetric fistula operation complex in Maiduguri.

“We leveraged on the availability of this new theater to bring experts and surgeons from France and Nigerian to perform surgeries to a targeted 150 women and girls during the 12-day campaigns. It had commenced on Monday July 23, 2018 across the state.