Jaafar Jaafar
9 November 2008
Kano — The consultant surgeon of the Kano State Ministry Health, Dr Amiru Imam disclosed at the weekend that there was a growing shortage of medical doctors in the State.
The surgeon lamented that doctors in Kano were going for greener pastures and their absence had impacted negatively on healthcare delivery, particularly maternal health as related to the Vesico-viginal Fistula (VVF).
The surgeon stated this in Dambatta Local Government during the 9th annual graduation ceremony of VVF Clients by Foundation for Women's Health in collaboration with FORWARD, describing the phenomenon as "pocket drain rather than brain drain." Drawing an analogy between the reported cases of VVF and the scant medical personnel in Kano, he said cases of VVF were between 500 and 600 every year. Dr Imam further said VVF was on the increase despite government's efforts to put a stop to it.
"As a measure to reduce the rate, for many years, the state government gives free anti-natal care," he said. While charging women to go to hospitals for antenatal treatment and delivery, he lamented that less than 20 percent of deliveries were carried out in hospitals. The medical expert explained that there are two types VVF plaguing the womenfolk. He said VVF occurs when the blood supply to the tissues of the vagina and the bladder are restricted during prolonged obstructed labour, the tissues die between these organs, forming holes through which urine can pass uncontrollably. According to him, there is also Recto-vaginal Fistula, RVF, which occurs in a similar way to VVF. He said holes form between the tissues of the vagina and rectum and lead to uncontrollable leakage of faeces. He therefore said obstetric fistula is mainly caused by prolonged obstructed labour and neurological conditions, noting that some other causes are psychological.
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