About 1.2 million cases of Vasco Vagina Fistula (VVF) have been recorded in the country out of which 80 per cent were found in North-western states, a surgeon in Katsina state, Dr Halliru Idris has said.

Presenting an over view of VVF in Nigeria at the launching of National Strategic Framework for Elimination of Fistula in Nigeria held in Katsina yesterday, Dr Idris said early marriage was not the cause of VVF.

He said “early marriage does not cause VVF provided pregnant women will go to hospital for anti-natal. The major problem of our women is that they don’t want to go to hospital during their pregnancy for anti-natal.”

The surgeon said 36, 000 VVF patients have so far been treated at Babbar-Ruga VVF center in Katsina, while 443 doctors, 911 nurses and 83 para-medicals have been trained on how to handle VVF cases. Speaking also at the occasion, wife of Katsina state governor, Hajiya Fatima Ibrahim Shema has reiterated government’s commitment towards addressing VVF problems in the state.

Also, head of the fistula centre in Ogoja Cross River state, Dr Micheal Okongor has confirmed that amongst the 120 fistula cases treated at the centre, the case of a 16 year old girl who had no anus has also been successfully treated.

He made the confirmation at a One-Day Media roundtable on National Strategic Framework on elimination of Fistula held in Calabar yesterday.

“There was peculiar case of a 16 Years old Girl that had no Anus but was successfully treated at the centre last year”, he said.

“The centre has been a huge success since its inception in 2012. We have recorded about 90 per cent success of cases of women with fistula including a peculiar case of a 16 year  old girl from Bekwara who was living without anus”, he said.