Kenya to have routine fistula services in all counties by 2030

Kenya will have routine services across all 47 counties as a way of eradicating Obstetric Fistula by the year 2030, Program Officer in Family Planning at the Ministry of Health Karen Aura has said.

Speaking in Makueni on Thursday, Aura said that, as a department of health, they are working towards the prevention and cure of Obstetric Fistula.

"We want to make sure that every woman receives safe and decent delivery, we have developed three packages to facilitate our action," noted Aura.

The three packages entail training of health professionals to deal with Fistula cases and are subdivided into simple fistula packages to handle simple cases, intermediate surgeons and consultant packages to deal with the most difficult issues.

According to Aura, the government has vowed to mobilise all stakeholders including policymakers, health care providers, Non-governmental organisations, the Private sector, and the media among others to eradicate fistula.

"Kenya has 10 surgeons only. There is an urgent need for all of us to mobilise support to be able to prevent Obstetric Fistula," added Aura.

Makueni First Lady Anita Mutula, present at the event, promised to pay a home visit to survivors of fistula to boost them economically.

"My Anita Mbinya Foundation will fully sponsor one Mary Cosmos, a survivor of Fistula in her 50s, to do a course of her choice to actualize her dream of wanting to be in a class that was shuttered by the disease," reiterated Anita.

According to the Director of Jhpiego Paul Nyachae, 73 people were diagnosed and 42 were fully operated on during the accelerated Obstetric Fistula week that started from 17th to 24th May in Makueni.

Nyachae said that Fistula is preventable and curable and therefore called upon all stakeholders to ensure that they provide a support system to mothers for a safe Nation.

"If we care for the dignity of our women, we should not wait until the worst happens but we should prepare in advance to just allow them to walk in and get services," said Nyachae.

According to Nyachae, 24,000 women in Kenya are suffering from Fistula with 3000 women estimated cases being added.

He promised that Jhpiego has been walking with Makueni Fistula patients for 10 years now and will continue to provide capacity building to women and health providers to eradicate the disease.

Elizabeth Muli, the acting health Committee Member, said that healing of the Fistula brings joy and peace to their families and promised to streamline the uptake of family planning among productive mothers.

Other stakeholders present at the event included Safaricom, Mpesa, Flying Doctors, Amref and Fistula Foundation among others.