Confirmed: Nigeria has the highest prevalence rate of Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) in the world 

  

Nigeria has the highest prevalence rate of Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) in the world with an alleged number of between 400,000 and 800,000 women living with this scourge. 

There are anywhere between 12,000 and 20,000 new cases occurring annually, with 90 per cent remaining untreated. The implication of this is that an average of 55 women are infected by VVF on a daily basis and it is conservatively estimated that two million women suffer from obstetric fistula globally. 

Northern Nigeria has a disproportionate amount of VVF cases with over 85 per cent of these figures.

 VVF is an occurrence of an abnormal hole which becomes an unnatural connection between the Bladder or Rectum and the Vagina and is characterized by a continuous and uncontrollable leakage of urine.

 Dr. Ahmed Yola, a VVF surgeon, disclosed that a significant percentage of VVF is caused by prolonged unattended obstructed labour.

It occurs when the blood supply to the tissues of the vagina and the bladder is restricted during prolonged obstructed labour, the tissues die between these organs, forming holes through which urine can pass uncontrollably.

Other major causes of it obviously include sex with minors and Female Genital Mutilation.

Sadly, Dr. Yola said, VVF accounts for 75% of loss of babies at birth and is responsible for 55 – 60% of the divorce rate in the country.

In Nigeria, VVF has social, economic, and religious implications. Many women with VVF are regarded as social outcasts and marriages have been dissolved as a result of this. Many girls between the ages of 11 and 15 in the Islamic Northern part of the country become mothers either through early marriage or through unwanted pregnancy. As a result of the less than advanced stage of their reproductive system they experience obstructed labour, and this is further worsened by the ineptitude of some unskilled birth attendants who tend to simply cut through the vagina in a bid to create a passage for the baby.

This can result in VVF, with its major manifestation of leaking urine and faeces through the vagina.

The odoriferous nature of the condition automatically makes women with VVF outcasts in society.

A visit to any of these VVF centres in Northern Nigeria would reveal a high number of teenage patients who have had their internals lacerated and turned to a mesh by creatures that engage in random acts of sexual intercourse with these young girls who are at various levels of physical development, none of which can be logically referred to as advanced. As they uncontrollably leak urine and fecal matter and give off obnoxious smells these pedophiles that are supposedly their husbands dump them and look for the next child bride. Dropping “damaged goods” and picking the next trophies in a spate of uncontrolled frenzy further complicates the already terrible problem.

When this is done under the garb of religion it becomes all the more unwholesome.

The Northern oligarchs and Islamic elite are complicit in this as they do not only turn a blind eye to this unfortunate and illogical phenomenon but actively engage in such activities. A serving senator, and former governor, from a state in the North-West was in the news for marrying a little Egyptian girl who was between 11 and 13 years of age. The little girl was allegedly the daughter of his chauffeur. 

This should not be a question of religion as this Senator took the girl away from Egypt, an Islamic country where child marriage and pedophilia is not allowed, and brought her down to Northern Nigeria to “marry” her, a child, under the rituals of a Sharia system he imported into Nigeria when he was a governor.

Rather than ensuring the education level in their region goes on the upswing some of these Neanderthals have buried themselves into defiling little children that are supposed to be their future.

A massive developmental index is education and these people that should know better seem content to keep their people light years behind the rest of the world and have kept them in a condition where they remain appropriate “poster boys” of the concept and perception the Western media is excited to portray of Africa.

The dearth of education in Northern Nigeria is acute when compared to the South, and is abysmal, even alarming, when compared to the developed world. According to Rachel Hatch, a Research Associate, Education Policy and Data Center, in many northern states more than 50% of young women aged 15-24 have no experience with formal education.

The female secondary school net attendance rate in Borno State is only 29% in comparison to a national average of 53%. An additional 18% of secondary school age girls attend formal school in Borno but at the primary level. These girls may benefit from exposure to schooling but they are behind for their age and at greater risk of dropping out. 

A further 7% of secondary school age girls attend non-formal programs. Nearly half (46%) of girls of secondary school age aren’t attending either formal or nonformal education programs and therefore don’t receive any benefits of schooling. 

The Northern Islamic elite are either oblivious to this or couldn’t care less. 

 

Now, rather than solve their retrogression they have decided to go down South, across the Niger to spread it.

The case of 14-year old Ese Oruru, abducted in Bayelsa State and taken to Kano for marriage under Islamic rites has taken over the headlines of national dailies and social media for a considerable amount of time now. 

Ese’s ordeal began on August 12, 2015 in the South-South city of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital. Mrs Rose Oruru, Ese’s mother, is a food vendor who has several different customers who patronize her. 

One of such customers was a certain Yinusa, a commercial tricycle operator who apparently hypnotized Ese and took her from Bayelsa to Kano on the purported excuse that she had converted to Islam. She was kidnapped and hypnotized or bullied into telling so many lies about her age, desire to be away from her parents, willingness to “convert” to Islam, and several other issues

Some commentators have attempted to give a very feeble position on her abduction, saying she was not kidnapped but she, a 17 year old girl, eloped with her lover. It took an interview with her 16 year old elder brother to show this was clear mendacity as Ese was just 13 she was kidnapped.

A very disturbing twist in this case was that this girl was kept in a location that was openly known. She was literally kept in plain sight. And Ese’s parents are said to have travelled to Kano State on several occasions in the past six months with officers of the Nigeria Police Force to secure her release without a positive result

Let that sink in for a second.

The Police Force could not secure the release of the girl for 6 months.

The Inspector General of Police is reported to have said he would not be able to act until the Emir of Kano, who was out of the city at the time, returned.

Unbelievable and Astounding. 
The fact that this happened is proof positive that this is not an isolated case. This is obviously a trend that has one theme running through the various portions of a single narrative.

It is very clear that this is not an exception but the rule as local authorities sat down on this and in all likelihood actively connived with the abductors to perpetrate this heinous crime.

Since the unveiling of the matter there has been the unearthing of several other such cases of criminal conspiracy and abduction of Southern girls by some Northern Islamic adherents. 

The pattern manifested shows that this cannot be done without the collusion of the powers that be in these Northern Islamic communities. 

In a tweet, a former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, quoted the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, as saying that Ese was to be taken to Abuja last Tuesday and handed over to the Commissioner of Police in charge of Bayelsa to reunite her with her parents.

“She is crying and refusing to go home. She does not want to go back but I have insisted she must go,” she quoted the Emir as saying.

It has since been alleged in the girl’s most recent confession that she did not even know how she got to Kano. She was taken to a place she referred to as “Kura” where she was put before a marabout and commanded to repeat whatever incantations he made…and that was how she purportedly “converted” to Islam.

In all of these, there seems to be very little mention of the apprehending and punishment of the criminals that corroborated to carry out this heinous crime.

These people are meant to be arrested, arraigned, and severely punished on several counts- kidnap, inflicting psychological trauma, grievous bodily harm, rape, sleeping with a minor, and intimidation among many other crimes.

Many of such things must have happened on previous occasions and they have not just been swept under the carpet but are still being perpetrated with such gross impunity. There has to be a loud statement in this case that will serve as a deterrent so we can save our future.

Like a friend of mine will say, “It is our problem, we can solve it.