Fifty-three women who have vesicovaginal fistula were on Sunday, in Katsina, presented with cash and various items to start small-scale businesses.
The women, who are from Katsina, Jigawa, Kano and Niger Republic, had completed a three-month skills acquisition programme at the rehabilitation centre of the National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Babbar Ruga, Katsina, where they learnt knitting, sewing, bead making, soap and detergent making as well as fish farming, among others, after completing their treatment at the centre.
Each woman received N20,000 in addition to sewing a machine and kits, knitting machine, bails of wrappers, including maize and guinea corn.
The governor’s wife, who was represented by Hajiya Hadiza Yerma, counseled the women not to be discouraged by their condition, stressing that they should, instead, concentrate on their businesses and take care of their children.
She advised those planning to have more children to immediately register for antenatal care in hospitals once they discover that they are pregnant.
She also counseled them to ensure that such babies were delivered in hospitals and not at homes.
Masari cautioned the people against stigmatising VVF victims, urging that such women needed the support and sympathy of the community.
Many of the beneficiaries, who spoke on the occasion, narrated how they were abandoned by families and friends when they had the ailment.
Some of them broke down in tears while recalling their experiences.