Federal Government Provides Free Surgery for Obstetric Fistula Patients in Edo

The federal government has announced that women in Edo State suffering from obstetric fistula will receive free treatment, including surgery, feeding, and transportation support.

Professor Ileogben Sunday‑Adeoye, Medical Director of the National Obstetric Fistula Centre in Benin City, disclosed the initiative to journalists.

Sunday‑Adeoye explained that the centre was created to provide specialised care for women with Vesico‑Vaginal Fistula (VVF) and Recto‑Vaginal Fistula (RVF), conditions that cause uncontrollable leakage of urine and faeces through the vagina.

He said, “The treatment is completely free, including feeding and transportation.”

“These women are among the poorest of the poor, and the federal government has made the corrective surgery free because the procedure can ordinarily cost millions of naira,” he added.

The facility, located on Ugbor Community Road in Benin City, is the fourth and newest National Obstetric Fistula Facility established by the federal government to address the growing burden of obstetric fistula across the country.

Sunday‑Adeoye reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to reducing the burden of obstetric fistula and restoring hope to affected women through accessible, high‑quality healthcare services.

He noted that the hospital is designed to serve patients in Edo State, the South‑South geopolitical zone, and neighbouring states.

Sunday‑Adeoye highlighted that, contrary to previous assumptions that obstetric fistula was largely a northern Nigeria problem, recent findings show the condition is also prevalent in the south.

He attributed the condition mainly to prolonged obstructed labour, often caused when the baby’s head is too large to pass through the mother’s pelvis.

When a timely caesarean section is not performed, prolonged labour can lead to tissue damage, creating holes between the bladder, rectum, and vagina that cause continuous leakage of urine or faeces.

The medical expert said the condition leaves victims physically, emotionally, and socially traumatised, stripping them of dignity.

“What ultimately happens is that the blood supply to the tissues is cut off, leading to tissue death and the formation of holes through which urine or faeces pass uncontrollably into the vagina,” he explained.

Sunday‑Adeoye identified lack of awareness as a major challenge limiting access to treatment, stressing that many affected women are unaware that free medical services exist in Benin.

“The major issue is that people are not aware of the existence of the hospital, where it is located, and that the services are free. That is why we are partnering with journalists to spread the message,” he said.

He called for stronger collaboration with the media, particularly the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), to increase public awareness about the facility and encourage women suffering from the condition to seek treatment.