President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has revealed that the establishment of the National Obstetrics Fistula Centre in Benin City faced significant setbacks due to a lack of cooperation from the immediate past governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki.
Speaking through the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Ishaq Salako, during the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the centre’s establishment, Tinubu commended the current Edo State Governor, Nosa Okpebholo, for swiftly facilitating progress on the project.
Dr. Salako disclosed that despite the centre being approved in May 2023 shortly before Tinubu took office—it struggled to take off under Obaseki’s administration. However, within three months of Okpebholo’s leadership, significant milestones had been achieved, including securing a temporary facility and allocating 24 hectares of land for the permanent site.
“We struggled from May 2023 till November 2024 before you became governor, but in about three months, we have achieved what we could not in almost two years,” Salako said. “Your administration’s commitment has been instrumental in moving this project forward.”
Fistula, a severe childbirth-related health condition, remains a major concern in Nigeria, which has the highest burden of cases worldwide. President Tinubu noted that approximately 12,000 new cases are recorded annually, with many patients suffering severe psychological and social consequences, including suicide.
The Federal Government has since launched a free fistula management programme, offering treatment and rehabilitation support. So far, about 1,700 patients have received free medical care under the initiative.
Governor Okpebholo, in his remarks, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for prioritizing healthcare development in Edo State, emphasizing that the new centre would serve not only the state but the entire South-South region.
“The Chief Medical Director has been working tirelessly for two years to get this centre running. Now, Edo people will finally benefit from it,” Okpebholo stated. “We are fully committed to supporting this project, and operations will begin soon.”
The establishment of the National Obstetrics Fistula Centre marks a significant healthcare milestone for Edo State, with expectations that it will enhance medical care and improve maternal health outcomes in the region.
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