Hundreds of Women Benefit From Free Fistula Surgery Funded by Safaricom Foundation, Freedom From Fistula Foundation-Kenya and Flying Doctors Society of Africa

At least 110 women suffering from fistula have received free reconstructive surgery in an ongoing two-week free fistula camp at the Kenyatta National Hospital.

Another 40 women are admitted at the facility awaiting surgery. The camp funded by Safaricom Foundation, Freedom from obstetric Fistula Foundation-Kenya and Flying Doctors Society of Africa and will see over 200 women benefit.

The free fistula camp is part of a three year Kshs.114 million Safaricom Foundation, Flying Doctors Society of Africa and Freedom from Fistula Foundation-Kenya grant towards various interventions for women living with obstetric fistula.

“We seek to raise awareness on obstetric fistula and mobilise women suffering from fistula to come forward for surgery to rectify the condition,” said Joseph Ogutu, Chairman, Safaricom Foundation.

Part of the funding will also go towards training 20 specialists, 20 anesthetists and 40 nurses on fistula management while enhancing their capacity to handle the condition in seven hospitals.

The free fistula camps will also be replicated across various counties.

The World Health Organisation has termed fistula as “the single most dramatic aftermath of neglected childbirth” estimating that more than 2 million women live with fistula worldwide.

The common causes of fistula are obstructed labor, sexual violence, early marriage and childbirth, Female Genital Mutilation and lack of access to skilled maternity care.

In Kenya, there are an estimated 3,000 new cases of fistula each year. Only 7.5 percent of these access the necessary medical care for the condition. This leads to high backlog of fistula cases.

At least 110 women suffering from fistula have received free reconstructive surgery in an ongoing two-week free fistula camp at the Kenyatta National Hospital.

Another 40 women are admitted at the facility awaiting surgery. The camp funded by Safaricom Foundation, Freedom from obstetric Fistula Foundation-Kenya and Flying Doctors Society of Africa and will see over 200 women benefit.

The free fistula camp is part of a three year Kshs.114 million Safaricom Foundation, Flying Doctors Society of Africa and Freedom from Fistula Foundation-Kenya grant towards various interventions for women living with obstetric fistula.

“We seek to raise awareness on obstetric fistula and mobilise women suffering from fistula to come forward for surgery to rectify the condition,” said Joseph Ogutu, Chairman, Safaricom Foundation.

Part of the funding will also go towards training 20 specialists, 20 anesthetists and 40 nurses on fistula management while enhancing their capacity to handle the condition in seven hospitals.

The free fistula camps will also be replicated across various counties.

The World Health Organisation has termed fistula as “the single most dramatic aftermath of neglected childbirth” estimating that more than 2 million women live with fistula worldwide.

The common causes of fistula are obstructed labor, sexual violence, early marriage and childbirth, Female Genital Mutilation and lack of access to skilled maternity care.

In Kenya, there are an estimated 3,000 new cases of fistula each year. Only 7.5 percent of these access the necessary medical care for the condition. This leads to high backlog of fistula cases.