By CrossRiverWatch admin
The Cross River State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Department of Haematology, University of Calabar has concluded plans to mark World Blood Donor Day coming up June 14, in the State.
This was disclosed by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Inyang Asibong recently in an interview with CrossRiverWatch.
She called on members of the public to embrace the opportunity of saving a life by donating blood on that day, adding that the exercise will hold at the National Blood Transfusion Center, Edibe-Edibe by Hawkins, Calabar South.
She further disclosed that, recently the State Government operated about 30 – 40 women suffering from Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF). The one week exercise was conducted at the General Hospital Ogoja.
According to her, “VVF is more in the rural communities in Cross River State and its caused by prolong obstructed labor. There are two types of fistula; Vesico Vaginal Fistula and Recto Vaginal Fistula (RVF), but VVF is more common.”
The Commissioner said the state has now trained and employed a VVF specialist who will man the center that the government has provided at the General Hospital in Calabar. She revealed also that, since so many of the persons suffering from VVF did not have the opportunity of going to Ogoja for the exercise due to the long distance, the Ministry is conducting a similar exercise at the Calabar General hospital and people suffering from Fistula have been enjoined to take advantage of the free surgery.
She also announced some incentives that come with the free surgery to include free accommodation for patients coming from outside the state capital and transportation for the patients to return home after the surgery.
She said, “Before now there used to be international partners but right now there is general donor fatigue and the donors have pulled out. The last exercise at Ogoja and the one we want to do in Calabar are funded solely by the State Government.
“There will be another center in Calabar General Hospital and the current Medical Superintendent, General Hospital Calabar has been employed and sent for training to handle the forthcoming free fistula surgeries in Calabar South and Municipal and the exercise will commence before the end of June 2016.”