Stephanie Linus Daily

Tag: VVF

  • NNPC/SNEPCo Partners With Extended Hands Foundation To Bring Free Medical Surgery To Women Suffering From Obstetric Fistula In Sokoto

    The Extended Hands Foundation, a non-profit organisation that I formed some years ago, with sponsorship from NNPC/SNEPCo recently gave free medical surgeries to 25 women living with Fistula in Sokoto state. I’m so grateful to NNPC/SNEPCo and the team of Doctors and Nurses who made this pool effort possible. 

    Below is an official press release from the exercise. 

    A total of 25 women formerly living with Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) have received free repair surgeries, giving them a chance to live normal lives again. This life-changing event was carried out courtesy of a recent Extended Hands Foundation’s pool effort in Sokoto state sponsored by NNPC/SNEPCo.

    Since its inception, the goal of the Extended Hands Foundation founded by star actress and producer Stephanie Linus, 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.

    With a generous sponsorship from NNPC/SNEPCo, the foundation completed the successful repair of 25 Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) patients at the Maryam Abacha Woman and Children (VVF Hospital) Sultan Bello Rd, Sokoto. All the repairs have been completed successfully and the women are recovering well.

    The team of medical staff was led by Dr Sa’ad Idris, a seasoned VVF Surgeon and former Commissioner for Health in Zamfara State with over 20 years experience in the field. He was assisted by Dr Halima Bello a VVF surgeon, Chief Medical Director Dr Lawal Bello, Chief Matron Hamsai Abdullahi Wisso, and other doctors and nurses at the VVF Center.

    As noted by the medical team, most of the women who were repaired had very complex cases of fistula resulting from botched surgeries carried out on them by inexperienced doctors. Some of the women had damaged wombs and tubes which caused a continuous involuntary discharge of urine into the vaginal vault. These women had been living with this condition for a varying number of years and finally got dry after the surgeries.

    Against the backdrop of her Child Bride and Fistula advocacy movie, DRY, Stephanie Linus has been 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.

    PHOTOS:

  • Great News Canada! DRY Will Be Showing at the Montreal Black Film Festival This September!

    Ever since I conceived the idea of making a world class movie about Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) and other issues faced by child brides, I dreamed that this movie would be shown in different cinemas, theaters and locations across the world. I’m so glad that dream is finally coming true.

    After a private screening in Wales -UK, a screening at the Bentonville Film Festival in USA, two premieres and nationwide cinema release in Nigeria, DRY will be showing in Montreal, Canada this September!

    The location is the Montreal International Black Film Festival, a dynamic, innovative and audacious festival whose ambition is to promote the development of the independent film industry and to showcase more films on the realities of Blacks from around the world.

    The festival would take place from September 29th to October 4th. However, DRY will be showing on Wednesday 30th September 2015. For more information, please CLICK HERE

    So, to everyone living in Canada or who will be in Canada during this period, do come out and watch this film. I want as many people around the world as possible to understand the plight faced by girls and women with VVF. This way, more and more people can demand feasible solutions, policies and practices that protects the girl child.

    I hope to see you there!

  • Yay!!! Senate Passes the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Bill

    I am so so glad today. I just read the cheering news that the Senate has passed the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Bill, which seeks to prohibit female circumcision, forceful ejection from home and harmful widowhood practices.

    I’ve been a part of of advocacy and projects that educate women and girls against cultural practices such as female circumcision and I’m so happy those actions are finally yielding results! This is a step in the right direction and is so dear to my heart.

    The bill, when signed to law by the President, would also help eliminate violence in private and public life, provide maximum protection, effective remedies for victims of violence and punishment of offenders.

    The bill also prohibits abandonment of spouse, children and other dependents without sustenance as well as forbids battery and harmful traditional practices.

    It equally prohibits economic abuse, forced isolation and separation from family and friends, substance attack, depriving persons of their liberty, incest, indecent exposure, among others.

    I can’t wait to see this bill passed into law and for all Nigerians to enjoy a violence-free life. Let’s continue to raise our voices against such violent practices and protect children around us.

  • 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:

  • DRY: More Than Just A Movie

    Stephanie Linus' Extended Hands Foundation VVF Project001

    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…)

  • Fun Times At Obudu Mountain Resort!

    Stephanie at Obudu Ranch 1

    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.

    Stephanie at Obudu Resort 6

    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.

    Stephanie at Obudu Resort 3

    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.

    Stephanie at Obudu Resort 4

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

    Stephanie at Obudu Resort 5

    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.

    Stephanie at Obudu Resort 7

    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