By CrossRiverWatch admin
The Cross River Government has promised to offer free surgery to more than 80 patients suffering from Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) as the World marks the VVF Day on May 23rd.
Dr. Inyang Asibong, the state Commissioner for Health, disclosed this on Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Asibong said that the gesture was to mark the event and to also encourage VVF patients to come out for treatment.
According to her, experts in VVF treatment would be on ground to perform medical test and carry out the surgery on the patients.
She said that the treatment would commence on May 23rd and end on May 31st.
“As part of the activities to mark the 2016 United Nations World VVF Day, the state government has agreed to offer free treatment to over 80 VVF patients in the state. In fact, we will even give them transportation money back to their respective destinations. The treatment is free.
“This we are doing to ensure that we eradicate VVF in the state. We have designated two centers for the surgery; the general hospital in Calabar for Southern Senatorial district and Ogoja general hospital for Northern senatorial district.
“Ignorance and lack of finance should not be a setback in accessing fistula treatment. We are calling on all VVF patients to come out for free surgery on May 23rd,” she said.
The Commissioner added that her Ministry was conducting awareness campaign in urban and rural areas in the state on the need for patients to report early cases of VVF for treatment.
She further said that the Ogoja general hospital which treats cases of VVF was well equipped with adequate medical facilities.
NAN reports that the 2016 theme for the world VVF day is “Ending Fistula in the current generation”.