The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs has announced plans to provide rehabilitation, reintegration, and reunification for 80 Vesico Vaginal Fistula survivors in Katsina State.

This, according, to the Minister for Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman, is part of the ongoing efforts by the Federal Government and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to address the needs of women and girls suffering from obstetric fistula in the country.

Sulaiman disclosed this during a town hall meeting held on Tuesday at the Katsina Multipurpose Women Centre, Katsina.

The minister, represented by the ECOWAS Focal Person, Iliyasu Zubair, acknowledged delays since the establishment of the programme coordination committee in 2011, reassuring stakeholders of plans to commence the full implementation of the Fistula project.

She said the project includes the training of 50 Fistula surgeons, 25 of whom will be trained at the National Obstetric Fistula Centre in Babbar-Ruga, Katsina, and another set of 25 at the Fistula Centre in Calabar, Cross River State.

The minister therefore expressed gratitude for ECOWAS’ continued support, emphasising the importance of collective efforts from the government, stakeholders, and citizens to ensure the success of the project.

“The surgeons will focus on the repair and management of women and girls suffering from obstetric Fistula.

“Additionally, the project will address the backlog of 100 obstetric fistula patients, with repairs scheduled at the National Obstetric Fistula Centre in Babbar-Ruga, Katsina.

“Needs assessments will be conducted for 80 fistula patients in the state, and rehabilitation/reintegration efforts will begin for the survivors, with the goal of improving their quality of life post-treatment,” she added.

On his part, the Katsina State Commissioner for Health, Musa Funtua, represented by the Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics, Abdulrashid Yusuf, commended the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre for its role in providing medical treatment and fostering empathy and understanding for fistula survivors.

In the meantime, the Permanent Secretary at the State Ministry of Women Affairs, Nura Murtala, commended the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre and other stakeholders for their unwavering commitment to advancing the rights of women and girls, urging them to continue championing this cause.

The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, since its inception, has directly impacted the lives of 110 million women in the country.