By Newsmata
With about 12,000 cases annually, Nigeria ranks highest in the world in cases of Vesico Vagina Fistula, VVF, the minister of state for Health, Dr. Ishaq Salako, disclosed on Tuesday in Benin City, Edo State. He said under the federal government’s programme of free Fistula management in which it provides social support and rehabilitation to patients, as of today, close to 1,700 cases have been freely supported, with the hope that it would continue to grow.
Dr. Salako, who led a federal government delegation to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of President Bola Tinubu for the take-off of a National Obstetrics Fistula Centre in Benin City, appreciated Governor Monday Okpebholo for his cooperation in setting up the centre, which he said the administration did not enjoy from his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki.
Commending Okpebholo for ensuring that Edo people got the best healthcare services in the state, the minister recalled how “We struggled from May 2023 till November 2024 before you became the Governor of Edo State, but in about three months, we have achieved what we could not achieve in about 24 months; all thanks to your administration. We appreciate you for your support as we have been able to get a temporary centre to start operations in Benin City.
“His Excellency has also given us 24 hectares of land for the permanent centre. You have demonstrated that you are a political son of the President who is prioritising healthcare at the federal level, while you are also prioritising healthcare in Edo State”.
Describing VVF as a challenging problem in Nigeria, Dr. Salako noted that “the nation is the country with the highest burden of Fistula in the world. We have about 12,000 cases annually”.
He said “Fistula is not only a medical problem, but a social and psychological problem as some people with this condition commit suicide as a result of it.
“The Federal Government has started a programme of free Fistula management, as the government provides social support, rehabilitation and today, close to 1,700 cases have been freely supported and we hope it will continue to grow”.
Thanking President Bola Tinubu for changing the narrative of Edo State, Governor Okpebholo, in his response, said the people will continue to appreciate him for all the development-oriented projects he had been initiating.
He noted that health is very important to Edo people and that the centre would serve not only the state, but the zone and other neighbouring states as well.
According to him, “The CMD of the centre has been struggling for the past two years. This centre belongs to the South-South, but located in Edo, and Edo people will benefit from it.
“I have no excuse but to support the take-off of the centre. The hospital will commence soon as Edo State Government will support the centre, and we thank the Federal Government for choosing Edo State”.