UNFPA, others launch fistula theatre in Borno

• Dickson approves N3,000 monthly stipend, free ante-natal for women in Bayelsa
• Obiano commiserates with Achebe family over death of woman, daughter, others

The United Nations Fund for Population (UNFPA), in collaboration with Korean and Canadian governments, has launched N1.8 billion fistula theatre repair project in Borno State.

The Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Lee In Tae, who commissioned the repair centre yesterday at State Specialists Hospital, Maiduguri, said the project would not only repair fistula among women, but provide them with vocational training and socio-economic empowerment.

According to him, the 32 sets of hospital equipment will serve the needs of 30,000 people for three months.Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Laraba Bello, who told the Korean ambassador that 120 women are on the waiting list for repair of fistula, said five fistula surgeons and neurologists from Germany, France and Nigeria successfully performed repairs of fistula on 57 women at the VVF centre.

In a related vein, Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has approved a special safe maternity allowance of N3,000 monthly to every pregnant woman in the state for the duration of the pregnancy.

Dickson, who spoke at the state’s first maternal and infant mortality summit and launch of safe motherhood, announced the release of N100 million to the Ministry of Health for the payment of the special allowances, in addition to the provision of free medication to all pregnant women in the state.

Besides, he also presented a cheque of N1.2 billion to the ministry and the Primary Healthcare Development Board, out of the N3 billion earmarked for the construction of healthcare facilities in each of the 105 political wards in the state.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the occasion, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, described the health facilities in Bayelsa as superb and recommended that Nigerians should take advantage of them, rather than travelling abroad for medical attention.

In another development, Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has commiserated with the Achebe family over the death of a pregnant woman and her daughter to flood at Umuria Village, Anaku in Ayamelum Local Council of the state.Obiano, while paying a condolence visit to the family yesterday, however, condemned the situation where some persons in the community allegedly destroyed property worth over N50 million in anger.