BY OSABUOHIEN VIVIAN ROSE
The Federal Government through Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare and, Edo State Government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) for the establishment of a National Obstetric Fistula Centre NOFIC in Benin, Edo State capital.
This was revealed in a statement signed by Alaba Balogun, Deputy Director Information & Public Relations of Edo State.
The signing ceremony was between the Honourable Minister of State for Health & Social Welfare Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako and the Executive Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebolo, Tuesday 11 February 2025.
During the signing ceremony, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako commended Senator Monday Okpebolo for providing and renovating a temporary take-off point for the centre.
In addition to the commendable gesture, he stated, was the provision of 22 hectares of land by the Executive Governor as a permanent site of the NOFIC, to serve the South-South geo-poitical zone of the country.
The Minister hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for the establishment, saying, it was a signpost of his unwavering commitment for actualizing universal health coverage for Nigerians and the vulnerable.
To this end, Obstetric Fistula, according to Dr. Salako is being addressed and tackled headlong by the Ministry through the Free Fistula Management Programme (FFMP) launched in June 2024.
In addition to the FFMP, he continued, the Ministry will intensify efforts to prevent Nigerian women from developing obstertric fistula through the promotion of Safe Motherhood Initiatives which involves positive pregnancy, delivery and, postpartum experiences.
The Minister described obstetric fistula as a preventable medical scourge with dire consequences for the victim, family, society and the nation.
“Regrettably, Nigeria contributes the largest number to the global burden of the challenge, with an estimated 150,000 existing cases and 12,000 new cases occuring annually”.
