By Hassan Zaggi
The United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Korea International Corporation Agency (KOICA) have repaired and rehabilitated 626 fistula patients in four years in Borno State.
The project was funded by KOICA and implemented by the UNFPA with support from the Borno State government.
The 626 fistula survivors who underwent surgical repair also acquired skills in their chosen area of interest from the comprehensive vocational training programme.
They received starter kits and finance to start their income-generating activity to support and encourage their economic stability and resilience.
The result is the outcome of the agreement signed between the UNFPA and KOICA to implement a four year (2018 – 2021) project christened “Fostering Resilience and provision of basic medical services for women and girls in Borno State, Nigeria”.
The project was aimed at building resilient communities through the restoration of access to basic medical and social services in conflict-affected communities.
Speaking at a strategic stakeholders reflection meeting in Abuja, Thursday, the UNFPA Representative in Nigeria, Ulla Mueller, disclosed that the project encompasses the empowering of women, ensuring the rights of women and also the prevention of maternal deaths.
She regretted that one in three women are exposed to Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Borno state.
According to her, one million women are exposed to GBV in Borno State.
She commended KOICA for funding the project and the Borno State Government for their support, noting that, “because without their support, the achievements would not have been possible.”
She expressed optimism that before the end of this year, she will go to Borno State with the KOICA Country Director to see the progress on ground and also discuss with the Borno State government on how to continue with the intervention.
“When we continue to work together in strong partnerships, we make the difference,” she stressed.
UNFPA, according to her, remained committed to supporting Borno State and expressed hope that KOICA will accept the invitation to join the conversation to continue to improve the lives of vulnerable residents of Borno state.
Other achievements of the project include a newly constructed ultra-modern Fistula centre in the Borno State Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri,11 safe spaces for women and girls were fully established and equipped in MMC. Jere and Konduga Local Government Areas (LGAs) provided the needed SRH/GBV prevention and response information and services to women and girls. An average of 50women and girls accessed the centres every week.
Other achievements include the training of 225 frontline health and social workers (doctors, nurses, community health workers and GBV caseworkers) on Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP), Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (EmONC), Family Planning and Maternal Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR), to adequately provide quality reproductive and maternal health as well as specialized GBV services in an integrated form.
Speaking, the KOICA Country Director, Mr Son Sungil, called on the UNFPA and the Borno State government “to show strong commitments to ensuring that the interventions realized through this project, are sustainably maintained with appropriate budgetary allocations and human resources.”
He insisted that: “Though this event would provide the platform to disseminate the outputs, achievements, and lessons learned during the project implementation, a critical point to also note during discussions at this strategic meeting is the importance of sustainability of interventions as delivered by this project.
“I assure you that KOICA remains resolute and committed to breaking down the barriers towards the attainment of women’s rights and gender equality.”
Earlier, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Pauline Tallen, applauded UNFPA for implementing the project and assured that her ministry would continue to work closely with UNFPA for the good of Nigerian women and girls.
Represented by the Iliyasu Umar Zubair, the Minister lamented that violence against women has become an epidemic in Nigeria.
She revealed that her ministry has received reports of over 1000 cases of GBV and women who are violated, lamenting that these huge number of women find it difficult to get justice.
On her part, a Fistula survivor, Fatima Mohammed Isah, commended KOICA and UNFPA for restoring their dignity and making them able to mingle with the general public after being ostracized for a long time.
She noted that apart from her relations coming back to interact with her after running away from her for a long time, she can now fend for herself from the proceeds of the skill she acquired from the KOICA funded project.
