- Joy as 30 patients healed freely after many years of battling VVF
Fidelia (not real name), a mother of five children has not been herself since 2002 when she was delivered of twins. In the process of delivery, her private part was severely ruptured and destroyed. Hence, stool and urine have been leaking from her vaginal.
Notwithstanding the pain that comes with the healing of the medical disorder, the 48-year-old woman had been operated upon for about three different times without solution.
In the eighteen years of living with the health complications, Fidelia had experienced rejection and had to shun social gatherings.
According to one of the oldest and globally recognised medical journals, Lancet, vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) is “a serious medical disorder characterised by an abnormal opening between the vagina and the bladder or rectum, which results in continuous leakage of urine or stool.”
The complications most times arise from prolonged child birth labour, accidents among other reasons and leave the patients depressed, stigmatised, traumatised and even rejected in the society.
Narrating how she got afflicted with VVF to The Point, Fidelia, an indigene of Okpuno Nnewichi, Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State, said, “For 18 years, I had leakage of faeces from my vagina instead of the normal anus due to complications I had at end of my last pregnancy of twins in 2002. I gave birth to twins, one of them came out normal while the other came with the leg and in the process, my private part was destroyed.
“The doctor said it will be repaired in my next pregnancy. So, in 2005, I went for the repair but more complications occurred. There came a hole in my vagina that connects to my anus. Whenever I feel like stooling, it will be coming out from both my vagina and anus. I had lived with the impediment for 18 years. Nobody could help me wash my clothes because they were always messed up.”
She added, “In 2018, one of my brothers took me to a private hospital in Anambra State where it was repaired two different times but both failed. The third time, I decided not to repair it again because of severe pains I always get. I decided to live with it. I was a public servant as an Accountant but I couldn’t continue because of the affliction.”
For 34-year-old indigene of Nsukka in Enugu State, she was diagnosed of fistula after her bladder was ruptured during a road accident in February, this year.
The mother of three children said, “I was involved in a road accident on 13th of February 2024. The motorcycle was split into two; one part of it plunged into my body and pulled my bladder out. I was taken to Parklane hospital in Enugu after the surgery; they could not repair the bladder.”
Another woman, a native of Ezzegu community in Ishielu Local Government area of Ebonyi State narrated her battle with VVF, saying, “I went to give birth on December 13, 2014 when this problem started. I was in labour for three days at a private hospital. They said there was a need for surgery because of the baby’s position, before they could finish, my baby had died. So, they brought out the corpse, during that process, my bladder was affected. I was referred to General hospital Orlu Imo State for repairs in 2015 but it failed.”
Like Fidelia, 24 years old Janet from Amagu Ikwo community in Ikwo local council of Ebonyi State, said, “My bladder was affected during delivery of my first baby who even later died. I am childless and I have not been able to conceive again since that incident in 2020. Urine has been leaking uncontrollably from my body since then.”
Meanwhile, the joy of these women and others suffering VVF knew no bounds recently after the wife of the Ebonyi State Governor, Mrs. Mary- Maudalene Ogbonna Nwifuru, facilitated free repair of their fistula.
Through her pet project, Better Health for Rural Women, Children, Orphans and Internally Displaced Persons Foundation (BERWO), Mrs. Nwifuru healed no fewer than 30 women with such health conditions both from the state and any other states of the federation free of charge.
After the free repair surgeries, the women got fully recovered and would be discharged soon from the National Obstetrics Fistula Center Abakaliki.
“On the 8th day of August, the surgery took place successfully. For the first time since 2002, I am able to fart, defecate under control and through the anus, no longer the vagina.
“All these years my condition was nothing to write home about. I don’t go to places as a result of this impediment but today, God has used the wife of Ebonyi State Governor whom I have never seen to visit me and wipe my 18 years of tears, shame, ridicule and depression free of charge. In all her life and generation she will never see shame or mockery,” Fidelia, one of the beneficiaries, prayed.
Other beneficiaries also showered praises and prayers on the First Lady after their successful repair.
Speaking during a visit to the survivors at National Obstetrics Fistula Center Abakaliki, Mrs. Nwifuru, represented by a member of the technical team of her pet project, Kelechi Mbam, explained that the kind gestures are part of the core objectives and missions of the foundation.
