As part of efforts to contribute to the development health sector in Niger State, particularly for the female folks, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has commissioned a women’s health center in Kontagora.
The modern and well-equipped edifice is birthed by the wife of Niger State Governor, Dr. Amina Abubakar Bello through her Raise Foundation, with the support of Mainstream Foundation as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
The center meant to provide health care services to women affected by Vesico Vegina Fistula (VVF), a disease that causes the uncontrolled passage of urine by women due to prolonged labor without access to professional healthcare service, will also avail patients the opportunity to learn skills before reintegrating them to their communities.
Commissioning the center, Governor Sani Bello said that the establishment of the center has reduced the burden on the state government, calling for more of such support from other private bodies.
He urged pregnant women to always go for antenatal and ensure they go to clinic or hospital for childbirth pointing out that doing so would help eradicate VVF in the State in no distant time.
“We pray that soon we will use this center as a general health facility because we are hoping that with proper sensitization especially of women in rural areas, they will go to either the primary healthcare or hospital to give birth”, he said.
The Governor gave the assurance that he would support the project and other similar projects put in place by private organizations and commended Raise Foundation as well as Mainstream Foundation for providing a state-of-the-art facility.
Dr. Amina, wife of the Governor and founder, Raise Foundation who explained that the project started in 2019 and was completed in November 2020 was born out of her desire to take care of indigent women affected by VVF.
She said the center has so far treated 34 patients and presently has 21 patients undergoing treatment.
The wife of the Governor added that a 20-bed patients hostel has been provided to help the patients recuperate as well as provide them with skills that will empower them and prepare them psychologically, emotionally as well as financially to assist them to continue with their lives easily before reintegrating them into the society.
Executive Secretary, Mainstream Foundation, Alh. Siraj Abdullahi said some of their CSR is in the areas of education, health, environment among others adding that their interventions are in all the communities they are located in.
Former Nigeria Head of State, General Abubakar Abdulsalami, Col Sani Bello (Rtd), Chairman, Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited were the special guests at the event.
Wives of the Northern Governors Forum, represented by Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu, representative of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Niger State House of Assembly, Federal Ministry of Health, Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) were among the groups and institutions that showed their solidarity at the event.
Other dignitaries present at the occasion were former Niger State Chief Judge, Justice Fati Lami Abubakar, Emir of Kagara, Alh. Ahmed Garba, Attahiru II, and the Emir of Kontagora are also represented by Engr. Shehu Galadima, the Galadiman Kontagora.
