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How Informed Are You About VVF?

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VVF, a known
abbreviation for Vesico Vagina Fistula, is one health challenge that has constituted itself a nightmare to women.
Ambiguous as it sounds, experts explain it as an obstetric trauma, occasioned by wrong or poor obstetric practices. But what meaning does that hold for a layman?
In a very simple term; VVF has to do with holes resulting from the breakdown in the tissue between the vaginal wall and the bladder or rectum caused by unrelieved obstructed labour.
The consequences of such damage, experts say, are urinary or faecal incontinence, and related bodily discomforts such as dermattis and erosion of the skin and other tissues in the vulva and vagina from the constant leakage of urine or faeces. In extreme cases, the urethra, bladder and vaginal wall can be completely eroded.
According to medical findings, if nerves to the lower limbs are damaged, women can develop Foot-drop, a loss of co-ordination with one or both of the lower limbs.
Victims of this health phenomenon however, consider the physical challenge, a lesser problem to an acute social problem that comes with it.
Due to constant leakage of urine or faeces, and the accompanying odour, most communities stigmatize these women hence cutting them off from all social activities. Like the biblical story of the “haemorrhage woman” , commuting in public vehicle and engaging in activities that congregate people become extremely difficult.
Aisha (surname withheld) relieves her ordeal as a victim as she said “my husband divorced me because of this problem. Out of shame, I left my father’s house to this city where I feel I’m not known”.
Even where a victim is not  overtly stigmatized there is usually a loss of self worth as victims naturally exhibit a withdrawn attitude as if nature has refused to be fair to them and always thinking that everybody is aware and conscious of their predicament.
VVF was first referenced in 1550 BC otherwise it was observed in the mummies of Ancient Egypt in 2050 BC. It was later linked to obstructed labour in 1030 AD
Like a minor problem observed in just a few women, VVF gradually became a problem to contend with in most of what is today known as developed world, including  US and Europe between the 17th and 19th centuries.
In 1855, the first world VVF specific hospital was established in New York. However, the incidence of VVF decreased in the face of development.
The Nigerian experience however, appears a far-cry from that of the developed world. Despite the availability of VVF repair facilities in some Nigerian hospitals for some decades now, the problem persists.
Some health analysts have ascribed the reasons to general underdevelopment of community health services structures and widespread poverty, while others blame it on underage marriage/teenage pregnancies, awkward traditional practices (symphysiotomy) and  obstructed labour/forced delivery.
While various reasons have been suggested as possible causes of this health phenomenon, it may also be rife to say that individuals’ attitude towards self medicare counts a lot. To many, even in the face of good medical facilities at their door steps, because it is a deviation from the traditional method they patronize, these facilities  are never accessed and explored.
However, research indicates that there appears to be a concentration of victims in northern, South-Eastern and middle belt regions of the country.
According to the Federal Ministry of Health between 500,000 and 1,000,000 women/girls are living with VVF, and an estimate of close to 80,000 new cases annually.
The prevalence of VVF seems high in areas poverty is high, especially among women. Also, in areas where education is low, or some cases non existent. It accounts for 75% of loss of babies & 55-60% of divorce rate.
Regrettably, most victims, due either to cost or distance, never make it to any formal medical establishment for appropriate attention.
VVF can be repaired surgically unless they are too large or associated damages to other tissues makes repairs impossible. Treatment is only available in a few specialist hospitals.
More so, once VVF is incurred, and possibly repaired, it is adviceable to have subsequent deliveries by caesarean section to avoid a reopening of the hole.
However, promotion of quality, accessible, obstetric care can be a major step towards reducing the incidence of VVF while prevention and awareness of the problem are equally important.

 
Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi

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Women

The Wise Woman

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The wise woman builds her home. Mothers are supposed to live exemplary lives. The roles of mothers in the building of the modern Christian home cannot be overemphasized.
The function of the mother is to help the man build the home. She is a helper. A helper to the husband when the man is not doing well. It is important for the wise woman to assist when the man is not able to meet up with the items needed in the home.
A wise woman needs to reference God first and then the husband. Also the wise woman should respect her husband.
Caring for her own children as well as others is very crucial.
Do not despise children from other mothers. Discipline the child who is going the wrong way.
Ensure family bonding, show love and don’t discriminate. Connection with children is very important, especially the females. Find out who is her friend. Also find out the kind of lives they live. Caution, counsel and guide so that they make good partners.
Teaching children the dos and donts should start from birth. Inculcate the word of God in them so that when they grow, will not depart from it.
From the Scripture, some women influenced their families positively. Virgin Mary influenced the world, she never destroyed herself hence she gave birth to Jesus Christ.
Elizabeth, despite her age, God blessed her as she waited patiently.
A wise should curb favouritism in the family and love children equally. Whether a child is your biological child or not, it is necessary to show love equally. Reprimanding the children should be the function of both man and wife.

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Women

The Desire Of Every Woman In Marriage

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Marriage is beautiful when there is love. Before and after marriage, couples show love to themselves. But you discover that after some years, that same love turn to be something else. A lot of people start going through emotional trauma in the hands of their loved spouses.
There are many things the woman desires to keep the love on as far as marriage is concerned.
Women are blesssed with feminine abilities that can be used for good in husbands lives. With your abilities, you can create a marriage that will last till couples get old.
A woman needs
man that is honest,  trustworthy,  nice,  loving and financially stable.
There are no two ways about finance in marriage. No matter the level of love, if there is no reasonable finance,  it is always difficult to manage the home.
Referring to the Biblical belief in Genesis 3: “Your desire  shall be unto you…….. “
What this means is that whatever the woman desires in life shall be provided as far as she performs her role in her home. There are many things  the woman expects her husband to take care of.
A woman wants a husband that is not lazy,  at least helping to do one or two things when he is at home.
A man that is educated and intelligent so that they will transfer such traits to their children.
Knowing that there are traits that her husband has,  traits of taking care of people,  giving freely to people and caring for her family. She expects him to exhibit them.
A woman wants to love a husband that has family interest at heart. A man that spends time with his family,  remembering his family even as he is away from home.
No matter where he finds himself, he is not destracted by external influence. He returns home to his loved ones.
A woman should not antagonise her husband because of one error or the other. No matter the level of offence he may have committed, you still show some love.
According to the Scripture, it is with wisdom that a woman builds her home. As far as he rreturns home, you accept him as your own.
It is not as if the woman will not monitor her husband, but to certain limit.  Don’t be a monitoring spirit.  Don’t allow anything to take your joy.
Don’t loose trust in your husband. The idea of checking your husband’s phone should be discouraged. The more you check your husband and his phone, the more you loose your joy.
You can show some form of jealousy, but to an extent. Cooperation, respect and being honoured from time to time is what the woman desires.
The home should not be a battle ground for a woman and man.  A woman should be able to ask herself if the check on her husband will pay her any good.
Draw a line to a point where you checkmate your husband’s activities.
A woman wants a man that will love her and telling her you love her will be all she desires.

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Women

The Desire Of Every Woman In Marriage

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A woman needs a man that is honest,  trustworthy,  nice,  loving and financially stable.
There are no two ways about finance in marriage. No matter the level of love, If there is no money,  it is always difficult.


Referring to the Biblical belief in Genesis 3:Your desire  shall be unto you……..
That is one aspect  the woman expects her husband to take care of.
A woman wants a husband that is not lazy,  at least helping to do one or two things.   A man that is educated and intelligent.
She knows that there is a trait that her husband has.  Traits of taking care of people,  giving freely to people and caring for her family.
A woman wants to love a husband that has family interest at heart. A man that spends time with his family,  remembering his family even as he is away from home.
A woman should not antagonise her husband because of one error or the other. No matter the level of offence he may have committed, you still show some love.


According to the Scripture, it is with wisdom that the women builds her home.
It is not as if the woman will not monitor her husband, but to certain limit.  Don’t be a monitoring spirit.  Don’t allow anything to take your joy.
Don’t loose trust in your husband.
The idea of checking your husband’s phone should be discouraged. The more you check your husband and his phone, the more you loose your joy.


The home should not be a battle ground for a woman and man.  A woman should be able to ask herself if the check on her husband will pay her any good.
Draw a line to a point where you checkmate your husband’s activities.
A woman wants a man that will love her and telling her you love her will be all she desires.

Eunice Choko-Kayode

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