I am on location at the moment shooting my movie – “DRY”. The movie focuses on Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF). This is a cause I am very passionate about. I have been to the North and to other parts of the country, and I have seen first-hand how this health issue defies normal living for girls and women of different ages. I have decided to share their stories through “DRY”.
location shot of a VVF patient
“DRY” journeys into the heart-wrenching details of a culture not too many films dare to explore. The issue might seem controversial, but if it will set one girl free and open the minds of the people, and also instruct different bodies and individuals to take action, then the movie would have served its purpose.
VVF causes leakage of urine and faeces through the vagina. Girls as young as 11-15 years suffer this ailment when they are forced into early marriages to older men, and due to their small pelvic sizes, they experience obstructive labour which can provoke a cut (mostly done by unprofessional medical aides) wherein the baby can come through.
I am excited about what we can achieve if VVF is taking more seriously. With our scripts and cameras, we shall tell the story of those whose voices are small… and lips too tired to speak.
More gist as the cameras roll!
– Stephanie
53 Comments
Talatu Talatu
August 24, 2012 at 8:38 amWell done Steph, you are doing a great job. God bless you and family IJN, Amen.
BB
August 24, 2012 at 9:01 amGreat effort Steph, kudos may God always bless d work of your hands, Cheers!
Umar faruk Batijjane
August 24, 2012 at 9:09 amI realy appreaciate your effort may God help you to continued doing good works like this.
ms_dee
August 24, 2012 at 9:15 amdis is nice, wish u all d best
Derah
August 24, 2012 at 9:16 amHey dear, thanks for this avenue. Am a medical student and would want to join in this ur cause of VVF. Hope u don’t mind.
Andy
August 24, 2012 at 9:25 amI wish you and the crew all the success as you shoot this noble movie. Thanks for the humanitarian efforts in exposing these societal ills..
MimI
August 24, 2012 at 9:29 amGreat job ma. God continue to bless and i know ur blog will be a huge success
essien
August 24, 2012 at 9:41 amI know u̶̲̥̅̊ are in Ogoja, am coming to watch you tonight. Stay blessed, u̶̲̥̅̊ r my favourite
charyz
August 24, 2012 at 9:44 amBecause you have the good of others at heart, God himself will see that all is well with u as well. keep up the good work
JB
August 24, 2012 at 9:47 amHey congrats hun
Such a great cause
All the best with making it a huge success
olabisi
August 24, 2012 at 9:52 amSure going 2 be a great.keep d good wk up.
Debby
August 24, 2012 at 10:01 amGreat job steph. The Lord will see u through
Monique
August 24, 2012 at 10:04 amGud work steph keep it up love u
Eugenia
August 24, 2012 at 10:05 amu are doing a great work stephanie. keep up d good work. i served in d north. and i know what dis woman are going thru. early marriage is d problem.
Barbara
August 24, 2012 at 10:06 amIt is wonderful having you here on the blogosphere with us. Hope you have a rewarding time here. Welcome!
Dzifa D
August 24, 2012 at 10:08 amThis is a really great project, which needs a lot of concentration.. kudos to you… Go on..
suzzy
August 24, 2012 at 11:09 amDis is a great job u are doin, I aslo hav passion 4 dis course becos I wrote a book abt it in 2005 when I won a contest in kogi state. It went a long way then. I wish u all d best
calista
August 24, 2012 at 11:29 amGreat work Steph…God will bless you….
stephanie
August 24, 2012 at 12:00 pmkudos our screen godness…..your indeed inspiring alot of pple including mou
Uray
August 24, 2012 at 12:26 pmLove your dedication to this course. Keep it up
Catherine Okereke
August 24, 2012 at 12:33 pmThis is Gøøð! ℓ̊ pray God crown your effort
Isioma
August 24, 2012 at 12:42 pmI love you Stephanie! From the depths of my heart! Really good to have a fresh voice on the blogosphere, away from all the gossip and commotion! Thumbs up as you continue to give back to the society. Hope to join in your footsteps! Mwahhhhhh!!
pattyclues
August 24, 2012 at 12:46 pmGod ωıιι bless you a whole lot steph, for dis good work you are doing. Keep Įτ̣̣̥
up dear.
Tobi
August 24, 2012 at 1:01 pmdis is luvly.all d best.
Obii
August 24, 2012 at 1:04 pmCool concept.Please get it right, i assume that’s the hardest part. i’m excited about this one.
Joan Taylor
August 24, 2012 at 1:17 pmThanks for making everyone aware of this procedure, your effort is a appreciated. Keep up the good work. May God continue to bless and keep you.
Leah
August 24, 2012 at 1:26 pmweldone dear. thumbsup!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
claribell
August 24, 2012 at 2:14 pmGreat job girl, am so proud of you!
lovely
August 24, 2012 at 2:25 pmmore greese tu ur elbow IJN amen
lucy arse
August 24, 2012 at 2:51 pmwish u d best sweet
charles
August 24, 2012 at 3:23 pmThat’s a nice work, just a little contribution, the position the woman in the pic above is wrong,we rarely do abdominal route repair,rather vaginal route repair for vvf,so it must be done right,since everybody is watching,kudos again
America;The land of the brave
August 24, 2012 at 4:39 pmThoughtful of you.
I had also seen firsthand what you are saying, because i served in the rural north.
Glad awareness will be created through your film.
Thank you.
nony
August 24, 2012 at 4:42 pmSteph! Ur an inspiration to young women who are willing to change the ills in their society. Am highly motivated by ur gesture nd God Bless U!
chicwtprettyface
August 24, 2012 at 7:37 pmcongrats doll, this wll surely open some eyes!
ayoade yusuff
August 24, 2012 at 9:16 pmmay Almighty Allah bless u, When completed i wish its shown to our fanatical muslim brothers who perpetrate d act of juvenile forceful marriages. They just turn d holy quran down to suit their illiterate ideas
Brina
August 24, 2012 at 9:41 pmWell done Steph on Ur new blog.
I ask, will U be able to withstand the insults Nigerians will give u? Nigerians like insulting pple and U’re a highly respected person. Better make Urself immuned against all the insults ooh, no take them to heart.
Anyway, love what U’re doing.
Thumps up.
uche
August 25, 2012 at 8:53 amAt last !! Thanks Stephanie. The VVF,FEMALE CIRCUMSITION,THE OUTCAST SYSTEM (most prevalent in the Igbo land) ,WIDOWHOOD PRACTICES. These things need to be addressed one way or another. You have started maybe others will join,lend their voices to this cause. Welldone!!
stephanie
August 25, 2012 at 10:52 amyeah gud hope it wil reach out 2 those who re in dis situation nd also cancel dat barbaric law.hope d parents will learn 2.
joy ihekwoaba
August 25, 2012 at 11:53 amU’re indeed a blessing 2 the world my God will bless u and ur marriage, my regards 2 ur hubby and hapy birthday 2 him many more years.
make we yan
August 25, 2012 at 12:04 pmGreat job you are doing Steph… Love ya loads.
sunday joseph
August 25, 2012 at 12:04 pmWhat a woderful work there,keep it up sister,pround of you
queensley
August 25, 2012 at 4:16 pmhello stephlin, i hope u read this, am ur huge fan (like jenifa would say). Am in d healthcare profession and really i must give u a huge thumbs up for this movie cos d awareness u guys are gonna create with this movie will help reduce d incidence of VVF and this will also reduce neonatal and maternal mortality rate!. Also, hope u dnt mind me chipping in smthn, i noticed in d photo that d windows were open and dats nt typical of an operating theatre. (I am one of those that believe that Nollywood should be at its best by now). In addition to this, pls is it possible that the movie will have an hausa version or subtitle cos thats d area where d condition is most common..
God bless u real good!!!
Amaechi
August 25, 2012 at 4:39 pmThe windows are actually closed but it seems there are different tints to the louvres, i think.
Amanda
August 25, 2012 at 7:35 pmHmmmm!dis Ȋ̝̊̅§ a very inspirin idea,nd am glad u r goin 2 reach out 2 odas tru dis movie.@ dis stage,early marriage shud b considad less due 2 d harm its causin.God dat gav u dis inspiration nd wisdom will bless u more with His divine knowledge nd spirit.well done sunshine.I lv u big ooooo
Kosoko olaitan adunni
August 26, 2012 at 6:16 pmWow!
awesome steph!
infact this just took me back to a french book i had to study in uni titled-chaque chose en son temps.
exactly what u just pointed out happened there.mostly common amongst the hausas and fulanis,who give away their young daughters as early as 13years to old alhajis all in the name of a good fortune and favor in return.
once again keep the good job up!
Lola
August 26, 2012 at 8:36 pmThis is eye opening steph, I like the energy you have going on I must commend you also nice observation by queensley.
Keep it up… I love your site and I’ll visit often 🙂
Omolara Manya
August 26, 2012 at 9:40 pmWaoh,I guess dis is †̥ђe̶̲̥̅ first Nigerian Medical centered film.I say Kudos to U̶̲̥̅̊. If you don’t mind I ll lik to chip in a few observation though some have been stated in earlier comments about the patient’s position and the condition of the operating theatre. For future movie it won’t b a bad idea to consult wit medical proffesionals not quacks or goggle it so you can give the best pic to viewers as they potray in foreign ones like HOUSE and the likes. Thanks and God bless.
Rachel
August 27, 2012 at 2:09 pmGood job!
Cathy
August 27, 2012 at 5:10 pminteresting movie i guess? seriously staying on this dial
Abigail
August 28, 2012 at 12:57 amHi steph….dis s my problem….vvf & i’ve lived wif its internal consequences since i wz 13yrs old.am nw 18 & am still living & enduring d problem due 2 vvf….pls i nd 2 get n directly n touch & ur help on hw 2 cure it.tanx
Lumidee
August 28, 2012 at 9:59 amThis is good news…hope it helps.would love to see it myself.Kudos STEPHANIE….!
sylvia
September 7, 2012 at 1:09 pmI cant wait to see this movie “DRY”, i know it’ll be great cos i trust u
Badejoko
September 15, 2012 at 7:57 amGoood one. We once developed radio dramas on VVF and the responses were amazing!!!. A lot really still needs to be done. Young girls are really suffering the triple jeopardy – early marriage, ostracization and psychological trauma. God bless your efforts… There is hope for Nigeria – I beleive.