From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
The Government of Edo state has allocated the Ugbor PHC to the Federal Government of Nigeria as temporal site of National Obstetric Fistula Centre Benin City.
This move comes as the Stella Obasanjo Hospital, the initial home of the facility, undergoes extensive reconstruction and renovation activities, pending the construction of its permanent site.
The handover ceremony of the Ugbor Primary Health Centre, by the Edo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Samuel Alli, to the management team of the National Obstetric Fistula Hospital, under the leadership of Professor Ileogben Sunday-Adeoye MON, represents a vital step in the relentless efforts led by the Office of the wife of the Edo State governor, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki to combat vesicovaginal fistula in the region.
During the ceremony, Mrs. Obaseki , whose dedication to the cause is unwavering, extended her heartfelt appreciation to the Federal Government for its invaluable collaboration. She also used the occasion to encourage women in the region to make use of the facility, offering them assurance of free surgical treatments.
“Please come, the doctors will attend to you here, and nobody needs to know. If you feel it’s shameful, you can come quietly here and get treated and quietly return to your home. Seek a better quality of life and get treated,” she affirmed.
Professor Ileogben Sunday-Adeoye MON, the Acting Medical Director of the Hospital, shed light on the necessity of relocating the Obstetric Fistula facility to the Ugbor PHC due to ongoing renovations at the Stella Obasanjo Hospital. He explained that this decision was made following a thorough scoping mission conducted by a team from the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with the state government.
Dr. Samuel Ali, Edo State Commissioner for Health, outlined his vision for the future, emphasizing that while the center operates from its current location, plans are underway at the federal level for the establishment of a permanent site for the hospital.
“This collaborative effort marks a beacon of hope and relief for countless women affected by obstetric fistula conditions not only in the South South region but also across Nigeria.
” It represents a significant stride taken by both the national and state governments in providing essential healthcare services and support to vulnerable populations and those in dire need”,Ali said.