Stephanie Linus Daily

Tag: Extended Hands Foundation

World Kindness Day: What Kind Act Has Someone Done For You Recently?

Today, November 13, is World Kindness Day. World Kindness Day is an international observance introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement, a coalition of nations kindness NGOs.

As we celebrate this day around the world, why don’t you take a moment to remember a kind act someone has done for you. Nothing is too small.

I can never forget this beautiful young girl I met in Kebbi State early this year. She was a recipient of the free VVF Repair Surgery carried out by the Extended Hands Foundation and sponsored by NNPC/SNEPCo. Myself and my team went to hospital to see the recipients after their successful surgeries and when she saw me, she presented me with this lovely set of bangles and a neck piece which she made herself. It was so beautiful and I was deeply touched by her kindness. She didn’t have to give me anything but she did in addition to expressing her gratitude. She’s such a sweet girl who had been through a traumatic experience, yet she was so kind and generous. I’ll never forget her.

Have you been touched by someone’s kindness? Have you been kind to someone recently? What was the kind act you received or gave? Let’s share.

I can’t wait to read your stories!

SL 🌺🌺🌺

November 13, 2017
Together We Can! NNPC/SNEPCo Sponsors Extended Hands Foundation For VVF Repairs Of 35 Women In Kebbi State

Hi SL Fabz!

The past week was a very busy one for me and members of the Extended Hands Foundation Team. I was in Kebbi state for a medical pool effort for the repair of 35 women who were victims of Vesico-Vaginal Fistula (VVF). This project which was sponsored by NNPC/SNEPCo and supported by the Kebbi State Government took place at the Ministry of Women Affairs & Social Development VVF Center in Gesse, Birin-Kebbi

I cannot express how grateful I am to be able to do something for these vulnerable women. Every time I see the extent of work that still needs to be done, I almost cringe with fear. However, I am always reminded of the fact that it’s not just about how I feel, it’s about taking conscious steps with the resources I have at my disposal. I may not be able to do everything, but I can do something significant that would set off a chain of events that could change the tides little by little.

Here are highlights of my visit to Kebbi state:

Our arrival in Kebbi State

Meeting the women + The surgeries

The project was supported by the Governor of Kebbi State Dr Abubakar Bagudu who also paid a visit to the VVF Center during our stay there

During our visit, we were interviewed by Kebbi TV and also visited the Government House

Visit to the women at the VVF Center with the First Lady of Kebbi state, Dr. Zainab Bagudu

I got handmade beads from one of the beneficiaries of the free VVF Surgery. She’s such a young and beautiful girl

The Ministry of Women Affairs Kebbi State supported VVF patients with donation of items to empower them economically

I must thank the amazing medical team led by Dr Sa’ad Idris and Dr Abubakar Bawa for their dedication and hardwork. They are the real heroes of this project

To round off the project, the Office of the First Lady of Kebbi State organised a closing ceremony

Bye Kebbi! Thank you for your warm hospitality. I had a lovely time

Many thanks to our sponsors NNPC/SNEPCo, the Kebbi State Government, Odio Mimonet and the entire Extended Hands Foundation team for making this project a reality. This is just the first step in reintegrating these women back into living healthy, normal and fulfilled lives.

March 21, 2017
50 Women with VVF Get Free Repair Surgeries from SNEPCo/NNPC & Extended Hands Foundation

A total of 50 women formerly suffering from the deeply embarrassing consequences of Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) have been given a chance to live normal lives again. This tremendous change was brought about a recent Extended Hands Foundation’s Pool effort in Kebbi state sponsored by SNEPCo/NNPC.

Since its inception, the goal of the Extended Hands Foundation which I founded has been to restore hope and put smiles on the faces of women. The women had the repair surgeries done at no cost to them and their families.

The exercise which was carried out at the Ministry of Women Affairs & Social Development VVF Center in Gesse, Birin-Kebbi was a successful one as the women all had successful surgeries and were nursed back to health at the hospital. Before the surgeries, many of them had been shunned and separated from their families as a result of the embarrassing effects of the condition. Some of them lost their jobs, their husbands, and were forced to live in degrading conditions. Thanks to the successful surgeries, they are now back with their loved ones and are living their dreams.

Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) is a serious disability that can be experienced by women after childbirth. They are holes resulting from the breakdown in the tissue between the vaginal wall and the bladder or rectum caused by unrelieved obstructed labour. The consequence of such damage is a woman’s inability to control the flow of urine or faeces. It occurs more often in young women during childbirth, as their bodies are not yet mature for the process.

The project was headed by the Chief Surgeon – Dr Sa’ad Idris, a seasoned VVF Surgeon with over 20 years experience in the field. He was assisted by Dr Halima Bello, a Consultant and other doctors and nurses at the VVF Center.

Against the backdrop of DRY, we are taking the message of restoration and hope to real women suffering from VVF. This pool effort goes a long way to show that DRY is more than just a movie, but a tool for touching the lives of women actually living with this condition.

Here are some photos:

April 13, 2016
WOW! I Made The NPR’s List Of Names We’d Like To See When We Google ‘Women Changing The World’

I feel so humbled right now.

In honor of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, NPR.org put together a list of some amazing global women in an article titled: Names We’d Like To See When We Google ‘Women Changing The World’.

It really humbled me to find out I made the list, and I’m so grateful to the organisation and many others who appreciate our work. Through the movie, DRY, and the Extended Hands Foundation, we have been working to raise awareness about the negative effect of poor maternal health and early marriage such as Vesico Vaginal Fistula. Also, through the support of donor organisations, we have repaired some women in different communities who have been living with this condition. We are not relenting in our work, and recognitions like this go a long way in encouraging us.

According to NPR, the list is comprised of “some of the unsung women making strides in the developing world. Maybe in a few years they’ll top Google’s lists of women changing the world in ways large and small.”

Here’s what they had to say about me:

Stephanie Linus, filmmaker

Linus, 33, a Nigerian filmmaker and actor, created a Nollywood movie called DRY about obstetric fistula — a hole between the vagina and bladder (or rectum in some cases) that can result from prolonged obstructed labor in childbirth, leaving a woman unable to control her bodily waste. Some 2 million women are affected worldwide. Surgery can help but is not always an option, since many of the women affected are poor. She hopes her film educates the world about the problem, and she’s raising money for the Extended Hands Foundation, which she set up to support surgical help.

Other women who were profiled on the list include: Dr. Odontuya Davaasuren, a doctor and professor; Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, a documentary filmmaker who won the Oscar for best documentary, short subject, for A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness and Garmai Sumo, a nurse in Liberia who works with children orphaned by the deadly virus.

CLICK HERE to see the full list and read the stories of these amazing women.

March 12, 2016
Watch The Touching Story Of VVF Survivors Blessing & Turafat

Imagine not being able to control your flow or urine or feaces. Imagine having your loved ones leave you because they were too embarrassed to be around you. Imagine passing through such challenges and finally having a successful repair surgery!

This is what 15 women passed through recently and thanks to sponsorship from Diamond Bank PLC, they are now living normal lives.

Recently, these women received free repair surgeries at the Kwara Specialist Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara State.

I was particularly touched by the stories of two women – Blessing & Turafat, who had passed through shame, rejection and a lot of challenges while they struggled with the embarrassing effects of Vesico Vaginal Fistula. Blessing’s husband left her, Turafat had to leave her job….

Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) is a serious disability that can be experienced by women after childbirth. They are holes resulting from the breakdown in the tissue between the vaginal wall and the bladder or rectum caused by unrelieved obstructed labour. The consequence of such damage is a woman’s inability to control the flow of urine or faeces.

Once again, I’m thankful to Diamond Bank for their sponsorship of this project.

Watch their inspiring stories below:

January 16, 2015
15 Women with VVF Get Free Repair Surgeries from Diamond Bank & Extended Hands Foundation

Since its inception, the goal of the Extended Hands Foundation which I founded some years back has been to restore hope and put smiles on the faces of women. For some years now, the foundation has been focused on helping women with Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) – a serious disability that can be experienced by women after childbirth – and giving them a chance at living normal lives through free repair surgeries.

Recently through the support of Diamond Bank PLC, 15 women living with VVF received free repair surgeries at the Kwara Specialist Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara State. The women all had successful surgeries and were nursed back to health at the hospital. Before the surgeries, many of them had been shunned and separated from their families as a result of the embarrassing effects of the condition. Some of them lost their jobs, their husbands, and were forced to live in degrading conditions. Thanks to the successful surgeries, they are now back with their loved ones and are living their dreams.

Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) is a serious disability that can be experienced by women after childbirth. They are holes resulting from the breakdown in the tissue between the vaginal wall and the bladder or rectum caused by unrelieved obstructed labour. The consequence of such damage is a woman’s inability to control the flow of urine or faeces. It occurs more often in young women during childbirth, as their bodies are not yet mature for the process.

The pool effort was lauded by the First Lady of Kwara State Mrs Omolewa Ahmed who received me and my team from Extended Hands Foundation as well as the Diamond Bank team at the State House in Ilorin. The state Commissioner for Health Alhaji Kayode Issah, also received the us during our stay in Ilorin.

I am thankful to everyone who has supported this exercise, especially Diamond Bank, and pledge that we would continue to do more to touch more women with VVF across the country.

With some Doctors, Nurses, Diamond Bank Team and Patients

With the Diamond Bank team and a Doctor

We had to wear such protective footwear in a theatre

At the office of the Kwara State Commissioner for Health

A handshake from the Kwara state Commissioner for Health – Alhaji Kayode Issah

A woman with VVF undergoes surgery

Watching intently – not such a pleasant sight, but I greatly admire the skills of our dear Doctor Sa’ad. The woman would be repaired and that’s all that matters.

Smiles after a successful surgery

Now she has a chance at living a normal life!

With the first lady of Kwara State – Mrs Omolewa Ahmed

Thank you Diamond Bank for all your support!

January 13, 2015
Watch Akinwunmmi Anu’s Inspiring VVF Repair Story

Yesterday, I shared with you photos from the recent Extended Hands Foundation pool effort in Ibadan and I was overwhelmed with your kind words and feedback. You really touched my heart in so many beautiful ways and I’m so grateful for all your prayers.

As it is with most of our pool effort, stories of a few of the affected women stand out from the rest. Not that any woman’s story is less important, but I was so touched by Akinwunmi Anu.

She is a young lady who developed Vesico Vaginal Fistula after labouring for three days at home since 2009. She later had a Cesarean Section but had complications afterwards. For 5 years, she suffered shame and discrimination as her friends and family ran away from her as she couldn’t control her urine and was constantly leaking.

As a result of the complication, she also stopped seeing her menstrual period. This troubled her for many years until recently when she had a successful surgery during the pool effort. This was made possible with the support of SNEPCo/NNPC.

I’m so glad we could bring a smile to her face once again. She had such a warm spirit and a beautiful smile for us all. Her satisfaction and restoration is what inspires us at Extended Hands Foundation.

Watch her inspiring story:

November 5, 2014
Photos From The Extended Hands Foundation Pool Effort at UCH Ibadan

For many years, I have been passionate about helping women who sadly have a condition called Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF).

This passion led me to form the Extended Hands Foundation, a charity organisation which has been dedicated to raising awareness about this condition and helping women already affected.

In an effort to spread the word on the dangers of Vesico Vaginal Fistula and to repair as many women as possible who have the condition, the Extended Hands Foundation with support from SNEPCo/NNPC recently carried out repair surgeries on 20 women at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

The pool effort was done to bring hope and restoration to the women who had been living with this condition for varying period of time. The women had the repair surgeries done at no cost to them and their families.

Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) is a serious disability that can be experienced by women after childbirth. They are holes resulting from the breakdown in the tissue between the vaginal wall and the bladder or rectum caused by unrelieved obstructed labour. The consequence of such damage is a woman’s inability to control the flow of urine or faeces. It occurs more often in young women during childbirth, as their bodies are not yet mature for the process.

The exercise which kicked off in June was a very successful one. The team of doctors carried out repair surgeries on 20 women whose lives had been adversely affected by this condition and it was so heart warming to restore hope and a chance at living normal lives to these women.

Aside from the surgeries, the foundation also donated surgical equipment and electrical supplies which was presented to the hospital at an event which took place at the hospital. In attendance was the Chief Medical Director of UCH Ibadan, Professor Temitope Alonge; Head of Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Professor Ayo Arowojodu and the Chief Medical Consultant, Department of Genitourinary & Urogynaecology Professor O. A. Ojengbede.

I am so grateful to our sponsors for the support, to all the kind and hardworking doctors and nurses at the hospital and to my entire team from Extended Hands Foundation. God bless you all!

Photos:

Me and my wonderful Extended Hands Crew.

The equipment we donated to the hospital

November 4, 2014
DRY: More Than Just A Movie

Several years ago, as an undergraduate at the University of Calabar, I heard about some young girls who had been forced into early marriage and were suffering the negative and embarrassing effects of Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF). Little did I know then that the desire to help those girls and also spread the awareness on the dangers of the condition would linger with me and turn into a burning passion.

Years later, I embarked on a journey of research and visits to several hospitals and VVF centers both within and outside Nigeria to interact with girls and women suffering from the condition and doctors who took care of them. I also partnered with NGOs in other African countries like Liberia and Sierra Leone.

These visits, interactions and research conducted over some years provided the blueprint for the script of my soon to be released movie called ‘DRY’ which I directed and acted in. (more…)

February 7, 2014
Fun Times At Obudu Mountain Resort!

Hi SL Fabz,

It’s a beautiful day and I’m in such high spirits, I’m in the mood for recounting some fun memories.

Recently, I was in Ogoja, Cross River state where under our Extended Hands Foundation and with support from Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company/NNPC, we carried out some free surgeries for women living with Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF). I’d still bring you more details of that program, but today, I want to share with you what we did afterwards.

After the surgeries, some of the doctors, nurses and I headed over to Obudu Mountain Resort for a time to relax after the exhaustive two weeks program.

Our ride in the Table Mountain Cable Car was so much fun. There was this brief scary moment when the it stopped mid air. You should have seen the look on my face then! We were high above the mountains! But it came back on in some seconds and we continued our ride.

When we got down at the other side, it was time for some adventure. I had a great time walking on the small bridge that ran through the forest.

Interestingly, I ran into some of my fans and it was fun meeting them and taking pictures with them too.

In all, it was a fun-filled adventure with beautiful and relaxing scenery. I totally enjoyed myself and can’t wait to visit there again.

Have you ever visited Obudu Mountain Resort before? Do share your experience or tell me about your last leisure trip.

I’d love to hear from you!

xoxo

SL

December 11, 2013