child marriages and vvf

vvf is vesticovaginal fistula
fistula  is a passage or hole that is formed between two organs of the body.
vvf is a hole or passage form between the bladder and the vaginal and it allows the continuous flow of urine
vesticovaginal fistula is an abnormal fistulous tract extending between the bladder(vestico) and the vaginal that allows continuous involuntary discharge of urine.
it is often caused by child birth when the unborn child is pressed tightly against the pelvis during prolong labor, this will result in cut of blood flow to the vesticovaginal wall leading to necrosis(death) of affected tissues leaving a hole



it also caused by violent rape and can also be associated with hysterectomy, cancer operations, radiation therapy, and cone biopsy.
vvf is mostly common in developing countries
Symptom: leakage of urine all the time.
Treatment: treatment involves  repairing  the area of fistula  and this can be done surgically by separating the wall of the urinary bladder and the vagina

photo: young women with vvf

one the main contributors of  vvf  is child marriages especially in my country Nigeria,  poor infrastructures  and malnutrition are also leading factors.
the tragedy of fistula patient begins when she is in labor and hours passed and sometimes even days of prolong labor  being in a remote village with little or no medical facilities  and most times the baby dies and is evacuated and then the second tragedy is fistula which she little or no information about. she rejected by husband and worst cases by her family because of the foul smell
 kudos to Stephenine Okereke one  of Nigeria"s leading actresses  and her team of Extended Hands Foundation for their work on the treatment of vff not only in Nigeria but also in Africa.

stephenine with a young woman after surgery

 Kudos to the Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II for advocating a ban on child marriage (for women below 18 years of age) am hoping that something will be done.

emir of kano