Upon entering the VVF Centre in Jahun local government area of Jigawa State, one is immediately struck by the clean and hygienic environment, the dedication of the staff and the hopeful faces of recovering patients who have received quality care.
However, the moment you engage with some of the patients and hear their stories — of stigma, abandonment by their husbands due to Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) or Rectrovaginal Fistula (RVF) — your heart will break.
It is impossible not to feel outrage at the primitive and inhumane treatment some women endure at the hands of their spouses.
Speaking with the patients — all of whom are women — reveals the extent of suffering inflicted by unkind-hearted husbands who lack both religious and cultural discipline.
These accounts will make one to understand the urgent need to strengthen the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, ensuring severe penalties for any man who abandons his wife or family due to a medical condition he may have contributed to.
Salawiyya Muhammad, a 23-year-old from Kwarin Gano village in Shinkafi LGA of Zamfara State, shared her ordeal. She was divorced by her husband after developing VVF, a condition she battled for two years.
Her suffering began during her second pregnancy when she went into labour. Her husband and his family refused to take her to the hospital. It was after a week that her father intervened, sending her brothers to take her to a medical facility.
After an emergency cesarean section, she delivered her baby but emerged with VVF due to prolonged obstructed labour.
“My husband neglected me completely,” she said. “Only my parents supported me, covering all medical expenses. Now, my father has passed away, leaving only my mother to care for me until we came to this VVF centte in Jahun.”
Salawiyya expressed gratitude to MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières) and their partners for restoring her hope.
“After surgery, I am improving. They provided free treatment, nutritious meals, skills training and counseling whenever we seem distressed.
When asked about her husband, she replied, “I will never go back to him learned he has remarried. Instead, I will focus on the skills I’ve learned here to become self-reliant and advocate for hospital deliveries — sing my life as a cautionary tale.”
The Rising Cases Of VVF: A Nurse’s Perspective
Mrs. Zippora Henry, a nursing staff member at the MSF VVF Center in Jahun, explained that VVF cases are increasing due to public ignorance, harmful cultural practices, and weak healthcare systems.
Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF), or obstetric fistula, is an abnormal opening between the bladder and vagina (or sometimes the ureter and vagina), caused by prolonged obstructed labor,. Affected women suffer continuous urine leakage, obstetric palsy (foot drop), neuropathic pain, and severe social stigma.
The primary causes include: Lack of quality antenatal care ,Harmful traditions like female genital mutilation (FGM)) and child marriage, Reluctance to seek medical help during pregnancy and delivery. Surgical errors during cesarean sections among others.
She stated that to combat this, “problem” we need public awareness campaigns, improved maternal healthcare services, and an end to dangerous cultural practices.”
The MSF centte in Jahun receives referrals from across Nigeria’s northwest and northeast, as well as Niger Republic. While most cases require surgical repair, minor injuries (under 2 cm) are treated with catheterization for healing.
The Story of Maryam Shehu
Maryam Shehu, 31, from Numan LGA, Adamawa State, developed RVF during her sixth pregnancy. She underwent four surgeries—three in Yola and one in Jahun—yet her husband never showed concern.
“He never paid my medical bills, not even transport fare. After six children together, he divorced me over this condition. I never expected such cruelty from a man I loved,”” she said, tears streaming down her face.
Now recovering, Maryam is grateful for MSF’s free treatment and renewed hope for a fresh start.
Amina Nasir’s Story
Amina Nasir, 40, from Birnin Kudu LGA, Jigawa State, was fortunate to have a husband who stood by her after she developed VVF during her tenth pregnancy.
Amina who was lucky to have a husband who stood by her throughout the difficult period narrated that, the ailments is very traumatic that it’s patience need counselling, extra love and caring.
” My husband and my brother stand by me and they always give me wards of encouragement, this is only what gives me some relief, but sincerely this is very disturbing problem to any woman”
I must sincerely thank SMF and all staff in the centre, because they always given us wards of encouragement, some times with an entertainment jokes, all to make us feel at home and remove our worries”
“I am getting better after the surgery, if I fully recover I will go back to home for my normal life but for pregnancy, this is the last” Amina stated.
MSF’ Treated Over 6,500 Cases
Samuel Uduma, the centre’s Nursing Activities Manager, revealed that since MSF established the Jahun VVF Center in 2008, they have treated 6,586 cases, including *4,980 new surgeries and 2,066 follow-up repairs, with 2,8611 full recoveries..
The center also provides ,psychosocial support, occupational therapy, and social rehabilitation in partnership with Fistula Foundation and Baba Musa Foundation. Many patients arrive with severe depression due to stigma and exclusion.
“Our biggest challenge is the Jigawa State government’s partial compliance with our MOU,” Uduma noted.
“To curb rising VVF cases, we need expanded public engagement, better healthcare funding, and safer surgical practices.
The VVF center’s work is bittersweet—heartwarming in its compassion, yet heartbreaking in the cruelty some women endure
It is very important for our country leaders to start learning and preparing on how to be self reliant in providing such critical services to citizens, provide laws that will guarantee protection to women and children at all level.
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