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Agony of 46-year-Old Woman Living With Irreparable VVF, RVF

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2 years ago

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Philip Yatai and Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu Zuwaira Iliya, 46, sits quietly on her hospital bed with catheter showing from the side of her wrapper as she slowly narrates her 30 years of struggle living with continuous leakage of urine and faeces.

Iliya, of Makarfi Village in Makarfi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, has been grappling with Obstetric Fistula.

But she has kept hope alive in spite of what appears to be a hopeless situation.

She told a News Agency of Nigeria Correspondent who was at the Vesico Vaginal Fistula Unit of Gambo Sawaba General Hospital, Zaria in Kaduna State on a special interview to mark the 2023 International Day to End Obstetric Fistula that she would be healed against all odds.

She told NAN that she had lived with VVF and Rectovaginal Fistula for 30 years as she contracted the condition at the age of 16 after her marriage.

Iliya said that she became pregnant soon after her marriage but experienced prolonged labour during childbirth, adding that she lost the baby and also developed both VVF and RVF in the process.

VVF or Obstetric Fistula, also known as fistula, is a childbirth complication which leads to abnormal opening between the bladder and the vagina, causing continuous and unremitting urinary incontinence.

The condition is among the most distressing complications of gynaecological and obstetric procedures which can cause discomfort.

And if left untreated, it may lead to serious bacterial infection, which may result to sepsis, a dangerous condition that can lead to low blood pressure, organ damage or even death.

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Similarly, RVF is a communication between bladder and rectum, where faeces pass before getting to the anus, leading to intermittent leakage of faeces into the vagina.

The development of these conditions, therefore, plunged the young Iliya into a life of agony.

And for the past 30 years, she said she had been struggling with depression, rejection, ridicule and abandonment.

She said: “I was married off at the age 16 and immediately became pregnant. When it was time to deliver the baby, I went into labour for three days.

“I was taken to the hospital for delivery, but had a big cut to enable the baby to come out and that was how I developed VVF and RVF.

“Thereafter, I was taken to a hospital in Kano, where I underwent surgery three times without success. And from there, I was taken to another hospital in Jos, Plateau State, but instead of performing a surgery, the doctor referred me to this VVF Unit in Zaria.

“Here in Zaria, I was operated twice, but still I continue to leak urine and faeces. Notwithstanding, I am still hopeful that maybe, just maybe if I undergo another surgery, I will be healed.”

Describing her life as “a very sad one”, Iliya said her husband divorced her in Kano because of the condition and she returned to her parents house.

She added that while trying to get better when her parents took her to the hospital, her mother and father died, leaving her all alone.

She explained: “My life is a life of agony because I was with my mother here in the hospital when she became ill and died, four days after my second surgery. I went to her burial with this catheter on me.

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“And just when I was waiting for another surgery, I received a message that my father was ill. I left the hospital to look after him and he also died.”

However, in spite of the visibly hopeless situation, relentless Iliya said she would not give up, adding that she hopes to get better and one day give birth to a child.

She said: “I have seen how some VVF survivors were operated on and were healed, went back home, became pregnant and then returned to the hospital and delivered their babies through Caesarean Section.

“This is why I am still hopeful that all is not lost and I have resolved to stay and get well so that maybe God will give me a child.”

On her part, Hajiya Fatima Umar, the Head of the VVF Unit at the Gambo Sawaba General Hospital in Zaria, said there are more than 20 irreparable fistula cases on the hospital list waiting for help.

Umar said some of the women have even made the hospital their homes, while others live in communities but maintain contacts with the facility.

She added: “Actually, the women have not been finding it easy staying in their environment or in their homes.

“Sometimes if they come and they are examined, or if they hear that other doctors are coming from somewhere, they will come.

“If they come, the doctors will examine them.

“Even if the doctors say they can’t operate on them, they will still come after a while because they are already comfortable with the hospital environment.

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“They prefer to be in the hospital than their homes because nobody is rejecting them here.”

Also, Dr. Ado Zakari, the Fistula Surgeon and Consultant, Public Health Physician, said most of the irreparable fistula cases were caused by quacks.

According to him, there is nothing doctors can do if the fistula is too wide and the damage is extensive.

Zakari said: “There are situations where the damage becomes extensive and there is nothing we can do because it is just the question of getting available tissue to repair.

“A situation where the entire tissue has been damaged, there is no way it can be repaired.

“This is because most quacks have no knowledge of anatomy; they operate anyhow.

“They take out everything, even the bladder tissue and when you look at it, there is no way you can repair it.

“You cannot create any tissue anywhere and close the fistula. Fistula is a hole, it is a communication, and if it is so wide, where will you get the tissue to repair it?

“We have such cases; they are irreparable. We cannot repair them.”

Philip Yatai and Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu report.

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Pharmaceutical Firms Want FG To Relax Regulatory Laws

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2 weeks ago

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March 23, 2025

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Pharmaceutical companies across the world have appealed to the Federal Government to relax the law guiding the setting up of industries in Nigeria.

The pharmaceutical companies wanted the federal government to grant them opportunities to set up manufacturing facilities in Nigeria in order to deepen their market penetration in the pharmaceutical/healthcare sector.

The, firms who are currently exhibitors in Nigeria, also called on the Federal Government to remove the hurdles put on the way by some of its regulatory agencies like National Administration for Food Drugs, Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The appeal was made by pharmaceutical companies present at the Pharma West Africa Exhibition, which is the West Africa’s largest trade event dedicated to improving access to quality medicines.

The exhibition, which was organised by Trade Show Organisation of Nigeria from March 18 to 20 2025, was held at Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, and attended by exhibitors from over 50 countries around the world.

According to Mr. Simranjit Singh Gandhi, the founder and director of Aprazer Healthcare Private Limited in India, he said this was their first time of being at the event. He, however, promised to have a discussion with the Nigerian regulatory agencies in order to make available their products in the country.

“This is our first time in Lagos, Nigeria, and it is great,” he said.

“We have some businesses to seal but we want people to see the big opportunities in this Pharma West Africa because this is a very big event.

“This is a great opportunity because Nigeria is a great market, to be honest. We are here to have discussions with NAFDAC, have discussions with business associates so that our products can be available in Nigeria in a legitimate manner.

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“We want to be part of the Nigerian market and make sure our products are here to help the country in areas needed,” he said.

Gandhi further disclosed that they saw an opportunity from Pharma West Africa to participate in the exhibition.

According to Gandhi, “This is a very big event. Nigeria is a very big market. We discovered that there are a lot of areas that have not been explored. So, we are here to meet business associates in order for our products to be known in Nigeria in a legitimate manner and to provide pharmaceutical products to Nigerians at affordable price. We will continue to attend the exhibition, and we will always support the event and partner the organisers. “

Also speaking, Victor Chinedum, the Vice President (Commercial and Branding), PureLife Health, whose company came up with a platform to help connect the people with healthcare experts, said the innovation would help to integrate various aspects of primary healthcare, including health and wellness products, vaccinations, diagnostics, specialist consultations, and medication delivery.

He said; “We are utilising technology to address hitherto difficult medical processes. We are serving as a platform for all primary healthcare activities, from medical doctors to diagnostics, to pharmacists and we are making sure that individuals that have access to this app can have access to all these primary healthcare drivers on one platform.

“We are here at Pharma West Africa because it is one of the largest gatherings of pharmaceutical stakeholders and this is a veritable platform to connect with business owners, to companies. We feel that if we want to make it easier for people to access their health, why can’t we create a general platform whereby they would have access to all these things at a go and so this is good because at the comfort of your home, you can list orders. At the comfort of your home, you can see the doctor, run diagnoses and get prescriptions.

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“This is because four out of every ten Nigerians do not completely care for their health, so we saw all these loopholes and decided to make healthcare accessibility easy for them by coming up with this,” he said.

On his own, Mr Kausher Nayabali of KNA, a group of companies, spoke on their mission in Lagos for the Pharma West Africa.

“We are into many sectors like pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, FMCG appliances. It is about a 100 years old company. We are in Nigeria for exhibition with our products and we want to offer these products to Nigerian people at an affordable price.

“We are enjoying our presence here and hope to be here for second time. We are looking to discuss with big importers and we can also produce our products right here. Because of logistics, we at times have issues bringing our products here but we can produce them here. We have been dominating the market for the past 15 years and we want to do the same in Nigeria.

“If we have good support from Nigeria, we can do more. Nigeria is one of the strongest economies in Africa with a big population, so we can help Nigerians to get good quality products at reasonable prices.”

Speaking on the exhibition, Kieran Westlake, the Exhibition Manager for Pharma West Africa, said the idea behind the event which began in 2024, is to create a platform for exhibitors to meet and network as local and foreign companies in pharmaceutical business.

According to Westlake, so far, Pharma West Africa is meeting the objective following the success of the event.

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Jamie Hill, Founder and Managing Director of Trade Show Organisers of Nigeria, said in his opening remarks at the opening of the three days exhibition that: “We are delighted to be hosting Pharma West Africa again after having such positive feedback from the launch event in 2024.

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FG reviews national culture policy after 37 years

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2 weeks ago

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March 22, 2025

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Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has said work is at final stage in the review of Nigeria’s National Policy on Culture.

The minister said in a statement on Friday in Abuja, that this was coming 37 years after the last review.

Musawa said the exercise was in collaboration with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

”The document was last reviewed in 1988, and has remained in draft form for over 37 years in spite of its significance in shaping Nigeria’s cultural and creative industries.

”A Cultural Policy Drafting Committee was inaugurated in July 2024, comprising over 100 members, divided into sub-groups to research, develop, and refine the policy framework.

”The committee successfully completed the virtual drafting process in December 2024, leading to the need for a physical drafting exercise to consolidate and refine the document,” she said.

She explained that the final stage was to get the policy ready for Stakeholders Engagement and Validation exercise before submission to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval.

“In recognition of the urgency of the reforms, the ministry initiated the comprehensive review process, ensuring that Nigeria’s cultural framework aligns with global best practices and reflects the evolving creative economy.

“This initiative reflects the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to cultural development under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” she said.

According to her, national policy on culture serves as a legal framework guiding the preservation, promotion, and development of Nigeria’s cultural heritage.

She noted that the review will ensure that the policy reflects contemporary trends, particularly the shift from a creative industry to a creative economy.

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Musawa further said that the ministry’s partnership with NESG and UNESCO had been instrumental in ensuring a well-structured and inclusive review process.

“Through the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2024, NESG has provided research, technical support, and stakeholder engagement strategies to ensure that the final policy meets both national and international standards.

“Additionally, UNESCO’s technical assistance has played a key role in training Ministry staff and NESG representatives to align the revised policy with global best practices.

“The organisation has facilitated workshops and provided expert guidance to ensure that Nigeria’s policy supports the growth of the creative economy while preserving cultural heritage,” she said.

Also speaking, a facilitator at NESG, Ikenna Nwosu, who participated in the policy drafting process said: ”for 37 years, this policy remained unchanged despite the rapid transformation of the cultural and creative sectors.

“Ideally, such policies should be reviewed every five to 10 years. What we are witnessing today is a long-overdue intervention.

“The industry has moved far ahead of governance, and this exercise is an essential step in ensuring that policies catch up with the sector’s economic potential.

“The minister’s leadership in driving this review is commendable, as it will reposition our cultural sector as a key contributor to Nigeria’s GDP.”(NAN)

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Lassa Fever cases decline in Nigeria, fatality rate remains high – NCDC

Published

3 weeks ago

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March 17, 2025

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Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported a decline in new confirmed Lassa fever cases in its Epidemiological Week 9 2025 report.

The NCDC via its official website on Sunday, said that the fatality rate remained alarmingly high at 18.7 per cent, with 100 deaths recorded so far in 2025.

According to the Lassa Fever Situation Report released by the agency, 29 new cases were confirmed across nine states, a drop from 54 cases recorded in the previous week (Week 8).

It said that the affected states included Ondo, Bauchi, Edo, Taraba, Ebonyi, Plateau, Cross River, Nasarawa, and Enugu.

The NCDC highlighted that 72 per cent of all confirmed cases were reported from just three states—Ondo 31 per cent, Bauchi 24 per cent, and Edo 17 per cent.

It said that these states continued to bear the brunt of the outbreak, raising concerns over the effectiveness of ongoing containment efforts.

Furthermore, it noted that one new healthcare worker was infected in Week 9, bringing the total number of affected health workers in 2025 to 17.

“This underscores the urgent need for better protective measures, adequate supply of personal protective equipment (PPEs), and enhanced infection prevention protocols in hospitals,” it said.

The NCDC outlined several challenges impacting the response to the outbreak, including: “Late presentation of cases, leading to high fatality rates”.

“Poor health-seeking behaviour, attributed to the high cost of Lassa fever treatment and management.

“Poor environmental sanitation conditions in high-burden communities and low awareness about Lassa fever symptoms and preventive measures”.

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In response to the outbreak, it said that the National Rapid Response Team (NRRT) had been deployed to Gombe, Nasarawa, and Benue states to provide technical support.

Additionally, the NCDC said it had intensified risk communication efforts and conducted training for healthcare workers in Bauchi, Ebonyi, and Benue states.

The agency said it was also collaborating with international partners such as WHO, MSF Geneva, and Georgetown Global Health Nigeria to improve case management and enhance surveillance.

Comparative data from the NCDC showed that while the number of confirmed cases in 2025 (535 cases as of Week 9) is lower than in 2024 (682 cases during the same period), the fatality rate remains nearly the same (18.7% vs. 18.8%).

“The NCDC continues to advise Nigerians to: “avoid contact with rodents and their droppings, store food properly to prevent contamination, and seek medical attention immediately if they experience symptoms such as fever, headache, sore throat, and unexplained bleeding,” it reported.

Meanwhile, Public Health experts said this called for more proactive measures to address gaps in early detection, treatment affordability, and public awareness to reduce mortality rates in future outbreaks.

They urged state governments, donor agencies, and community leaders to intensify awareness campaigns and improve healthcare infrastructure in Lassa fever hotspots.

As Nigeria battles this recurrent public health challenge, experts emphasised the need for long-term investments in disease surveillance, public health education, and improved access to treatment to curb future outbreaks.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease caused by the Lassa virus, primarily spread through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine, faeces, or saliva of infected rodents.

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Human-to-human transmission can also occur, particularly in healthcare settings, with inadequate infection prevention and control (IPC) measures.

Nigeria records Lassa fever cases year-round, with peak transmission occurring between October and May.

The high burden of the disease is linked to widespread rodent infestations, poor sanitation, and a lack of awareness in many communities.

Efforts to combat Lassa fever in the country include: surveillance and early detection, case management, and public health awareness campaigns.

In spite of these efforts, Lassa fever remains a significant public health challenge, with high mortality rates and the potential for international spread, as seen in the recent report. (NAN)

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