……. Kogi urges early medical intervention and discourages child marriage
By Rotimi Odofin
The Kogi State Ministry of Health has received commendation for its uncommon commitment and active involvement in the free surgical treatment of women suffering from Vesico-Vaginal Fistula (VVF), with 16 patients successfully undergoing corrective operations at the State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja.
The commendation was made on Friday, August 28, 2026, by the lead surgeon of the Fistula Foundation medical team, Professor Yakubu Ahmed, during a press briefing held at the hospital following the successful completion of the latest round of surgeries.
Professor Ahmed particularly praised the Ministry of Health under the leadership of the Coordinating Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza, for demonstrating what he described as a strong and exceptional interest in the welfare of fistula patients in the state.
According to him, the ministry has gone beyond merely facilitating the program by showing tremendous commitment to the surgical process and the overall well-being of affected women.
He said the Fistula Foundation remained ready to provide surgical services to patients requiring fistula-related interventions in Kogi State and neighbouring communities, stressing that the foundation was committed to restoring the dignity, health and quality of life of women living with the condition.
Representing the Coordinating Commissioner for Health, the Chief Medical Director of the Kogi State Hospital Management Board, Dr. Ayo Olayemi commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for creating an enabling environment for the free fistula surgeries to take place in the state.
Olayemi described VVF as a largely preventable condition and linked many cases to complications arising from prolonged obstructed labor.
He stressed the importance of timely medical intervention during childbirth, noting that women experiencing prolonged labour should be taken to appropriate health facilities without delay for professional assessment and possible emergency intervention, including Caesarean section where medically indicated.
The CMD also raised concerns over early marriage and teenage pregnancy, particularly cultural practices that result in girls being married off before they are physically mature enough for childbirth.
He called for greater protection of the girl child and urged families and communities to allow girls to attain adulthood and reproductive maturity before marriage.
Olayemi further commended the medical team for the successful procedures and called on the Fistula Foundation to expand its interventions in Kogi.
He assured the foundation of the state government’s readiness to welcome and support credible healthcare interventions capable of improving the well-being of residents
.
Also speaking, the Program Officer of SFHF, the NGO responsible for the fistula program in the state, Dr. Inyang Menyene said the primary objective of the intervention was to provide fistula repairs for affected patients in Kogi and neighboring states.
Menyene acknowledged the commitment of the Executive Director of SFHF to tackling and reducing the burden of fistula in Nigeria, revealing that the foundation currently operates in Kogi and nine other states across the country.
He disclosed that the organisation was also interested in bringing additional interventions into Kogi’s health sector, including support and assistance for persons living with disabilities.
Earlier, the Chief Medical Director of the State Specialist Hospital, Dr. Sayi Folagbade disclosed that 36 patients had so far successfully undergone fistula procedures at the facility, describing the latest exercise as the third phase of the intervention since its commencement in 2025.
Folagbade stressed that the program was completely free for beneficiaries, with patients bearing no financial burden for the surgical procedures.
He said the foundation had also taken responsibility for the patients’ welfare throughout the treatment period, including daily feeding and financial assistance to cover transportation costs after discharge.
The hospital chief urged the media to intensify public awareness about the free fistula treatment, saying increased publicity would help identify more women suffering from the condition and encourage them to come forward for medical assistance.
The latest intervention, he said, underscored the importance of collaboration between government, healthcare institutions, and development partners in addressing conditions that affect women’s health, dignity, and social wellbeing.
