Hundreds of women across Kenya received free correction surgery for obstetric fistula in Nakuru County
The exercise started last week at the Nakuru County Referral Hospital Is sponsored by Nakuru County Government in conjunction with the Africa Medical Research Foundation (AMREF) Kenya.
Five correction surgeries were done on Wednesday while another five were done Thursday at the newly commissioned Margaret Kenyatta Mother-Baby Wing.
Speaking at the hospital when she visited the recuperating patients, Elizabeth said the beneficiaries would go about their lives without stigma following the correction.
“Those suffering from fistula should not suffer in silence, I appeal to all of them wherever they are to come and get treatment,” she said.
She commended AMREF for partnering with the county, offering expertise and training staff.
She at the same time asked expectant mothers to attend ante natal clinic and go to hospital
for assisted deliveries to avoid fistula.
“The government and counties have invested heavily in medical care and even free National Health Insurance Fund registration for expecting mothers and it would be bad if women get fistula due to unassisted births at home,” she said.
County Executive Committee Member for Health Kariuki Gichuki said the county considered running the fistula camp annually.
More than 6 million women in the country suffer from obstetric fistula according to a new report by Amref health Africa.
The condition is caused by prolonged or obstructed labour and Female Genital Mutilation(FGM)
Obstetric fistula is a hole between the vagina and rectum or bladder that is caused by prolonged obstructed labor, leaving a woman incontinent of urine or feces or both. Women who experience the condition suffer shame, social segregation and health problems from the constant incontinence.
Kitui governor Charity Ngilu earlier advised women to avoid going for C –Section to reduce high risk of getting festula