The majority of women in remote regions of Kenya continue to give birth at home, with no access to skilled birth attendants or emergency obstetric care. This puts them at high risk of developing obstetric fistula, a preventable childbirth injury that causes chronic suffering.
This issue was highlighted during the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula, which was celebrated at Gusii Stadium in Kisii County on Friday.
The awareness event began with a walk from Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital (KTRH) to Gusii Stadium to draw attention to the plight of women suffering from obstetric fistula, a condition affecting more than one million women globally with 3,000 new cases reported annually in Kenya alone. Alarmingly, however, only 7.5% of affected women receive treatment.
This year's theme, 'Her Health, Her Right: Shaping a Future Without Fistula”, highlights the importance of ensuring that women and girls have access to timely and high-quality maternal care, and the right to a safe childbirth experience.
In a speech delivered on behalf of Kisii Governor Simba Arati, Deputy Governor Elijah Obebo announced that 428 women had undergone fistula repair surgery at county facilities last year. During the ongoing fistula camp at Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital (KTRH), over 50 women have received free surgical treatment in just six days.
"Kisii County has expanded maternal and newborn health services, deployed more skilled birth attendants and strengthened referral systems to address this challenge,' said Mr Obebo.
"Obstetric fistula, which is often the result of prolonged obstructed labour without timely medical intervention, is not just a medical issue — it is also a human rights crisis," he added.
Women affected by the condition often face stigma, social isolation and economic hardship, and are abandoned by their families and excluded from education and employment.
Mr Nelson Musa, Programme Director at the Fistula Foundation, emphasised the foundation’s commitment to expanding its partnerships with hospitals and training healthcare providers.
“Our goal is to connect women across Kenya with timely, high-quality fistula care and ultimately eliminate waiting times for treatment,” he said.
The Fistula Foundation is also advancing its five-year global strategic plan to expand access to life-transforming surgeries across 35 countries.
Mr Ronald Nyakweba, Kisii County Executive Committee Member for Medical Services, Public Health and Sanitation, announced plans to increase rural outreach and build a new health block at Gucha Sub-County Referral Hospital.
"'This development will ease congestion at KTRH and ensure more women receive care closer to home,' he said, urging the Fistula Foundation to support the expansion of services at the new facility.
During the event, the Ministry of Health launched the Obstetric Fistula Kenya Programme Playbook — a comprehensive guide designed to improve the monitoring and evaluation of, and the effective delivery of, fistula prevention, treatment and postoperative care.
This marks a significant step towards institutionalising quality fistula care and accelerating progress towards a fistula-free Kenya.
