NAOWA President inaugurates VVF ward, distributes working tools to women in Sokoto

The National President of Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA), Hajia Salamatu Yahaya, has inaugurated Vesico Verginal Fistula (VVF) patients’ ward at the Goronyo General Hospital in Sokoto State.
VVF is an abnormal opening between the bladder and the vagina that results in continuous and unremitting urinary incontinence, however, the condition can be repaired through surgery.

The entity is one among the most distressing complications of gynecologic and obstetric procedures, where a woman develops a hole between the birth canal and the bladder or rectum after a prolonged, obstructed labour without access to timely medical treatment.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ward was constructed and donated by the Nigerian Army under the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Army-civil relationship programme in the country.
Inaugurating the ward on Thursday, Yahaya said the project was conceived to support VVF victims and support the government, as well as donors’ efforts toward enhancing VVF treatment and services.
She expressed optimism that the ward would assist in ensuring smooth patients’ treatment, care and workers’ services.
Yahaya added that Goronyo hospital was selected in view of the high concentration of VVF patients from Nigeria and neighboring countries.
”COAS had approved the construction of the VVF ward in the last eight months and completed in Jan. 30.
”It was equipped with all the necessary facilities for VVF treatment and a hospital ward,” she said.
According to her, the association is concerned with plights of women suffering from VVF, and in recognition of distinct efforts of the Sokoto treatment centre, adding,”that was why NAOWA deems fit to support them as being conducted in other places.”
The NAOWA president commended COAS for the foresight to consider VVF patients for their vulnerability in the society along with women empowerment at large in his community support programmes.
She urged fistula patients to come forward to access the services as VVF is curable and experts are available to treat at all times as well as access the support given to VVF victims in the country.
In her remark, the wife of General Officer Commanding (GOC) and State Chairperson of NAOWA, Mrs Florence Makut, said the ward would help to restore the dignity of women in society.
She lauded the leadership of Yahaya on her efforts to address the challenges being faced by women and called on the management of the hospital to properly use the facility.
The Director of Medical Services in the State Ministry of Health, Dr Shu’aibu Gobir, lauded NAOWA and Nigerian Army over the support which would surely augment fistula care and services in the country.

Meanwhile, the NAOWA president has launched the distribution of working tools to 78 trained women under NAOWA empowerment support programme in Giginya Barracks Sokoto.
The benefiting women were trained at Eagle Net Vocational Training Centre located at 8 Division of Nigeria Army, Sokoto.
Yahaya said the centre was commissioned in Oct. 2019, with students on tailoring, knitting, soap making, salon services.
She said the effort was to make soldiers’ wives and others more productive through engagement on viable business ventures and reitraited NAOWA\s commitment to expand the services and support.’
”No fewer than 78 trained women will get starter packs and N5,000 each to commence business.
” I urge you beneficiaries to make good use of the facilities to support your respective families. ” Yahaya said.

Earlier, Makut said the centre introduced Information and Communication Technology (ICT), music, leather works and catering services classes.
She said the effort was to introduce more innovative training in order to empower women in the barrack.
She further announced the change of centre’s name from Eagle Net to NAOWA training center in order to have more corporate attractions and services.
NAN recalls that Yahaya had on Dec. 21, 2022 inaugurated a solar-powered borehole, a head tank and a rehabilitated VVF centre at the Maryam Abacha Women and Children Hospital, Sokoto. (NAN)