By JANE WAITHIRA
More than 400 women from Murang’a County and neighbouring counties have benefited from free restorative fistula surgeries conducted at the Murang’a Level 5 Hospital.
The medical camp, carried out by a team drawn from the county government, the Flying Doctors, and Amref Health Africa, aimed to restore dignity to women who have lived for years in silence and shame due to obstetric fistula.
According to the organisers, the week-long exercise targeted vulnerable women suffering from a condition that is both preventable and treatable but remains widely misunderstood.
Dr Christine Muthengi, a Vesicovaginal Fistula specialist who took part in the exercise, said some patients had endured the condition for decades without seeking medical help.
“Obstetric fistula is a childbirth injury that causes chronic incontinence and deep physical trauma due to constant leakage of body waste, often resulting in a foul smell,” she said.
Muthengi noted that stigma remains the biggest barrier to treatment, as many affected women fear disclosure and choose to suffer in isolation.
“The biggest challenge is stigma. Patients fear speaking out, so they hide their condition, which leads to rejection by spouses and withdrawal from family and society,” she said.
She added that many women end up isolated, with some abandoned by their partners and others avoiding social interaction for fear of ridicule.
“Women and girls with this condition are forced to live in hiding for years to save themselves from shame,” she added.
Muthengi also observed that lack of awareness contributes significantly to delayed treatment, with many women failing to recognise the condition early or knowing where to seek help.
She further pointed to systemic gaps in maternal healthcare, including a shortage of trained fistula surgeons, delays in emergency obstetric care, and complications during childbirth.
“These factors continue to slow progress in strengthening maternal health systems in the country,” she said.
Data from the Ministry of Health indicates that approximately 120,000 women in Kenya are living with fistula, many of whom are yet to receive treatment.
Speaking during the camp, Patricia Ithau from the M-Pesa Foundation, which supported the initiative, said no woman should be forced to suffer in silence.
“No woman should suffer in silence because of this condition,” she said.
Ithau noted that the foundation has supported treatment for more than 1,500 women across the country, enabling many to return to normal lives.
“The fistula surgery might look simple, but the transformation it brings to a woman’s dignity, health and future is profound,” she said.
She added that the foundation has invested in several health initiatives, including Uzazi Salama, Daktari Smart, and maternal and newborn health programmes in different parts of the country.
