30th September, 2016
The Jigawa Government on Friday said it had trained 100 Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) patients in the state in different vocations and entrepreneurship.
Hajiya Ladi Ibrahim, the Commissioner, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, disclosed this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse.
Ibrahim said the training was in conjunction with the Fistula Foundation in Nigeria which provided the empowerment tools, while the state government provided logistics.
She said that the VVF victims underwent training in skills like bead-making, mat making, shoemaking and making groundnut oil.
The commissioner said that they were also taught dying, making of locust beans and local spaghetti, soap making, perfume and cosmetics production.
According to her, the empowerment scheme is to create jobs and promote self-reliance among the victims.
Ladi told NAN the training also engaged the beneficiaries and ease the psychological trauma and stigmatisation they might experience after discharge from hospital.
She said that after the eight-week training, the trainees were given starter kits to begin the business of their choice.
The commissioner appealed to wealthy individuals in the society and others to emulate the state government and the Foundation’s gesture by assisting the patients.