Hajiya Aisha Yusuf, a Principal Nursing Officer, National Obstetric and Fistula Center, Ningi, has advised parents to adopt Child Birth Spacing (CBS) to curb Vesicovaginal fistula (VVF).
Yusuf stated this at a one-day workshop organized for girls between the ages of 11years to 18 years on Thursday in Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi.
The workshop was organized by the Federation of Muslims Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Bauchi State Chapter, and funded by Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA).
She emphasized that CBS if properly implemented, would reduce the number of girls’ early marriages and this could effectively curb VVF among women of reproductive age.
Yusuf observed that prolonged labor and harmful traditional practices are some of the causes of VVF.
“Parents should adopt CBS as a method to prevent VVF in girls, especially where girls are married off due to exposure and interactions with men.
“VVF does not have age bearers or a number of deliveries, but we should bear in mind that prolonged and obstructed labor can cause malpositioning of the baby that leads to VVF,” she said.
The nursing officer also mentioned female genital mutilation, rape, trauma, and accidents as other causes of VVF.
She called on pregnant women to always seek medical attention towards safe delivery.
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In her remark, an official of FOMWAN, Hajiya Fatima Ahmed, said that the workshop and field visit was to educate the participants on the negative effects of early and forced marriages.
Ahmed said the visit would further expose the participants to issues of reproductive health.
Also speaking, Malama Jummai Sa’ad, FOMWAN’s Facilitator for Jama’are Local Government, said that such workshop would be replicated at the grassroots through various programmes.
Malam Inuwa Baba, a participant, said that the information gathered would be used as a tool for enlightening various communities.
The participants visited VVF patients at the Ningi National Obstetric and Fistula Center as part of the team’s field visits.
No fewer than 120 girls and their parents selected from two communities in Jama’are local government council attended the workshop.
