Murang’a fistula camp treats over 400 women, highlights care gaps

A critical shortage of trained fistula surgeons, delayed emergency obstetric care and childbirth complications are slowing efforts to strengthen maternal healthcare in Kenya, as an estimated 120,000 women continue to live with untreated obstetric fistula.

At Murang’a County Referral Hospital, dozens of women and girls underwent corrective fistula surgery, while others received screening, counselling and physiotherapy during a recent medical camp aimed at improving long-term management of the condition.

Vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) nurse and trainer Christine Muthengi said some patients had lived with the condition for decades, with cases dating back to 1991. Many reported being abandoned by spouses and isolated by their families.

“Obstetric fistula is a devastating childbirth injury that causes chronic incontinence, deep physical trauma and social isolation, from constant leakage to resultant foul smell. Women and girls are forced into hiding for years, to save them from shame,” she said.

Muthengi identified stigma as a major barrier to treatment, noting that many patients conceal their condition and delay seeking medical care due to fear and lack of awareness.

Despite Murang’a County recording strong maternal health indicators, including a 96 per cent skilled birth attendance rate and a relatively low teenage pregnancy rate of seven per cent, challenges such as poverty, early and unintended pregnancies, misdiagnosis and delays in accessing emergency obstetric services continue to increase the risk of fistula.

The camp, which ran for several days, reached 449 women and girls, with those diagnosed receiving surgical treatment or other forms of care depending on the severity of their condition.

The initiative is a collaborative effort among the M-Pesa Foundation, the Ministry of Health, and the Murang'a County Government, with support from clinical partners, including the Flying Doctors and Amref Health Africa.

“No woman should have to suffer in silence. Fistula surgery may seem like a simple procedure, but the transformation it brings to a woman's dignity, health and future is profound,” said Patricia Ithau, a trustee at the M-Pesa Foundation.