BY PETER OKUTU
Abakaliki—The Mother and Child Care Initiative, MCCI, of Mrs Josephine Elechi, wife of Ebonyi State governor, has treated 904 Vesico-Vaginal Fistula, VVF, patients since its inception in 2007.

Mrs. Elechi made the disclosure weekend in Abakaliki during the grand finale of the 2011 Ebonyi Women’s Day celebration.

She said the patients were drawn from 16 states of the federation, including Ebonyi.

“The repairs conducted on the patients were free of charge and the initiative will soon commence the repair of another batch of VVF patients at the National Fistula Centre, Abakaliki,” she said.

“In its bid to reduce the incidences of maternal mortality/ morbidity in the state, the initiative has just concluded its community sensitisation / outreach campaign across the 13 local government areas of the state on safe motherhood,” she said.

She also noted that the cancer screening centre at the fistula complex had commenced screening for breast, cervical and prostrate cancer, to ensure early detection with a view to averting its fatal effects.

“I therefore call on our women to avail themselves, the services provided by the centre for their overall wellbeing,” she said.

Mrs Elechi noted that support to orphans and vulnerable children and the crusade for the encouragement of girl-child education had also been sustained.

“The fight against female genital mutilation and provision of support for people living with HIV/ AIDS and widows, have also remained regular features in MCCI activities,” she said.

The Ebonyi First Lady thanked the state government for its support to women in the state and called on women to continue being the agents needed for societal transformation.

Governor Martin Elechi in his remark, noted that the annual Ebonyi Women’s Day celebration had continued to signify the opportunity given to the womenfolk for “conviviality and merriment.”

“It has also offered opportunity to women to collectively take stock of their contributions to the growth of the state and the country,’ he said.

The governor commended women in the state for transforming themselves from “docile to a vibrant and self-asserting genre of modern day generation of hard workers, care-givers and political forces to be reckoned with”.

“I am a living witness to how you have transformed from being carriers of wood and water, hawkers of yam tubers along the streets of Abaklaiki; to scientific farmers, businesswomen, educationists, lawyers, administrators and active politicians,” the governor said.

He promised that his administration would continue to encourage women in all sectors, especially the opportunities to contribute in developing the state, through appointments and support for elective positions.

In her remarks,Mrs Ngozi Madubike, the State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, called on women to help in the fight against drug abuse by closely monitoring their children’s activities.