By David Uka, Abakaliki
Over 3,000 fistula and prolapse patients have been repaired free of charge at the National Obstetrics Fistula Centre (NOFIC) Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
The New Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr. Johnson Obunna who disclosed this while briefing Journalists in Abakaliki, explained that the beneficiaries of the treatment were from different parts of the country, adding that a minimum of 20 of such cases are being handled every month in the centre.
He added that the centre also took charge of feeding and care of clients throughout the period of treatment.
He said aside the treatment of clients free of charge, they also sent their officials to the hinterlands to search for women with such ailment and brought them to the hospital for repairs.
According to him, many women in the villages across the country are suffering from fistula most of whom hide the sickness because of stigmatization and other superstitious beliefs.
Obunna noted that the centre handles alot of health cases and hoped to improve more on its gains.
“There are some women especially those who have fistula, they cannot get pregnant. Their tubes have been blocked, may be their husbands can’t produce sperm again and they cannot get pregnant through conventional method.
“Some of them couldn’t get pregnant till they reach menopause, such people we bring them here and we treat them. We do what we called system reproductive technology or popularly known as baby transplant. We make them to get pregnant, we give services free for fistula patients”, he said.
Obunna explained that the functions of the centre keep expanding, most of which are handled free of charge. He appealed to local and international donors, non Governmental Organizations and good spirited individuals to assist the hospital with funds and other items to aid its humanitarian services to the people.
PHOTO CAPTION ABOVE: Dr. Johnson Obunna, Medical Director, National Obstetrics Fistula Centre (NOFIC) Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
