The Minister of Health, Prof.C.O.Onyebuchi Chukwu who signed the MOU on behalf of the Federal Government noted that recent data shows that there is a decline in the incidence of Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) cases in the country which he said is attributable to the renewed efforts by government and partners to address the reproductive health of women and girls suffering from VVF.

He enumerated some of the renewed efforts among others to include the National Training on Obstetric Fistula Management for doctors and nurses in 2011 at Katsina, Kano, and Ebonyi States which was supported by the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs, engagement of Dr.Kee’s Waaldjk, a Consultant VVF Surgeon, for the training of doctors and nurses in the management of fistula and the designation of Ebonyi South-east VVF Centre and Bubbar Ruga VVF Centre Katsina as National Obstetric Fistula centre in 2011 and 2013 respectively.

He observed that the takeover of the Centre by the Federal Government and its designation as National Obstetric Fistula Centre would bring expansion of services for the treatment and rehabilitation of VVF patients thereby reducing the backlog of VVF patients in Bauchi State and its environs and the country at large.

Prof.Chukwu also said that the Centre will also serve as a training and research centre, provide additional Federal Government presence and job opportunities in the state as well as promote the health of women, which is crucial to the family and society for national stability and development.

He reaffirmed that the fight against Obstetric Fistula is gaining momentum especially from the present administration as part of the Transformation Agenda of Mr. President with increased partnership from State Governments, development partners, individuals, private institutions and Non-Governmental Organisations all working assiduously to eliminate Obstetric Fistula and restore dignity and hope of the sufferers.

In his response, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Mallam (Dr.) Isa Yuguda commended the Federal Government for establishing the National VVF Centre in the North-East describing it as pleasing because it will cater for the health needs of the VVF victims in the zone.

He also thanked the Minister for constituting the Governing Board of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital of which he envisaged that the Teaching Hospital would be one of the best in the country taking into account the calibre of people on the board.

He said that his government has achieved some developmental strides to include the award of  contract for the construction of a new 350 bed capacity specialist Hospital, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities at the cost of N2.7 billion Naira, provision of infrastructures, upgrading of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital with state-of-the-art equipment, provision of incentives package to attract t other doctors from all over the country to the state, upgrading of Primary Healthcare centres, training and retraining of health workers, propagation of Midwifery programme to take care of the deficit of nurses in the state and reduction of maternal mortality by 78%.

He also said that the State Government has also expanded Primary Healthcare Centres services stressing that to date, over 1,200 health facilities are at Primary Healthcare level.

In order to improve manpower situation in the health sector, he said all students of Bauchi origin studying medicine and other health related courses have been offered permanent employment adding that at the moment, over 1000 students are benefitting from the programme.

The Minister earlier paid courtesy visit to the Emir of Bauchi, Alh.Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu where the Monarch acknowledged the government of the day for its relentless efforts to ensuring access to health care delivery.

He said though Government has tried in providing health care delivery to the people which is an important determinant in promoting the wellbeing of the people, there is need for government to do more in the health sector to improve the lot of the people . He stressed.

The Minister also inspected and commissioned some projects at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi to include Trauma Centre, Radiodiagnostic complex, New Conference Hall, Laboratory Complex, Eye Clinic, New Theatre Complex, Renal Centre, TB Training centre Paediatric Complex, and Administrative Block Phase II.

FG Takes Over Bauchi National VVF Centre

The Minister of Health, Prof.C.O.Onyebuchi Chukwu who signed the MOU on behalf of the Federal Government noted that recent data shows that there is a decline in the incidence of Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) cases in the country which he said is attributable to the renewed efforts by government and partners to address the reproductive health of women and girls suffering from VVF.

He enumerated some of the renewed efforts among others to include the National Training on Obstetric Fistula Management for doctors and nurses in 2011 at Katsina, Kano, and Ebonyi States which was supported by the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs, engagement of Dr.Kee’s Waaldjk, a Consultant VVF Surgeon, for the training of doctors and nurses in the management of fistula and the designation of Ebonyi South-east VVF Centre and Bubbar Ruga VVF Centre Katsina as National Obstetric Fistula centre in 2011 and 2013 respectively.

He observed that the takeover of the Centre by the Federal Government and its designation as National Obstetric Fistula Centre would bring expansion of services for the treatment and rehabilitation of VVF patients thereby reducing the backlog of VVF patients in Bauchi State and its environs and the country at large.

Prof.Chukwu also said that the Centre will also serve as a training and research centre, provide additional Federal Government presence and job opportunities in the state as well as promote the health of women, which is crucial to the family and society for national stability and development.

He reaffirmed that the fight against Obstetric Fistula is gaining momentum especially from the present administration as part of the Transformation Agenda of Mr. President with increased partnership from State Governments, development partners, individuals, private institutions and Non-Governmental Organisations all working assiduously to eliminate Obstetric Fistula and restore dignity and hope of the sufferers.

In his response, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Mallam (Dr.) Isa Yuguda commended the Federal Government for establishing the National VVF Centre in the North-East describing it as pleasing because it will cater for the health needs of the VVF victims in the zone.

He also thanked the Minister for constituting the Governing Board of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital of which he envisaged that the Teaching Hospital would be one of the best in the country taking into account the calibre of people on the board.

He said that his government has achieved some developmental strides to include the award of  contract for the construction of a new 350 bed capacity specialist Hospital, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities at the cost of N2.7 billion Naira, provision of infrastructures, upgrading of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital with state-of-the-art equipment, provision of incentives package to attract t other doctors from all over the country to the state, upgrading of Primary Healthcare centres, training and retraining of health workers, propagation of Midwifery programme to take care of the deficit of nurses in the state and reduction of maternal mortality by 78%.

He also said that the State Government has also expanded Primary Healthcare Centres services stressing that to date, over 1,200 health facilities are at Primary Healthcare level.

In order to improve manpower situation in the health sector, he said all students of Bauchi origin studying medicine and other health related courses have been offered permanent employment adding that at the moment, over 1000 students are benefitting from the programme.

The Minister earlier paid courtesy visit to the Emir of Bauchi, Alh.Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu where the Monarch acknowledged the government of the day for its relentless efforts to ensuring access to health care delivery.

He said though Government has tried in providing health care delivery to the people which is an important determinant in promoting the wellbeing of the people, there is need for government to do more in the health sector to improve the lot of the people . He stressed.

The Minister also inspected and commissioned some projects at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi to include Trauma Centre, Radiodiagnostic complex, New Conference Hall, Laboratory Complex, Eye Clinic, New Theatre Complex, Renal Centre, TB Training centre Paediatric Complex, and Administrative Block Phase II.