In a significant effort to combat Obstetric Fistula, the Fistula Foundation and Bomu Hospital, in collaboration with the residents of Samburu Sub-County, have commemorated the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula by providing essential healthcare services at the Mulunguni Dispensary.
Bomu Hospital offered free consultations, screenings, and treatments for fistula, a critical health issue that has been proven to affect many women at the grassroots level.
Obstetric Fistula is an abnormal connection between the rectum and the birth canal that is caused by prolonged labour and injury during childbirth. Depending on the size and location of the fistula, there may be foul-smelling vaginal discharge or passage of stool from the vagina.
In very few cases the fistulas may close on their own but most need to be repaired surgically.
Speaking to journalists, Bomu’s Fistula Coordinator Safina Ramadhan said that the collaboration between Fistula Foundation and Bomu Hospital began in 2015, initially serving three counties of Mombasa, Kwale, and Kilifi.
She highlighted that over the years, their efforts have expanded to include Taita-Taveta, Lamu, and Tana River counties, providing free fistula treatment. To date, they have successfully reached and treated over 500 women from all the coastal counties.
Ramadhan said that initially, one of the major challenges was the lack of awareness about fistula among the affected. Additionally, transportation costs posed a significant barrier for women in rural areas seeking treatment. Misunderstandings and lack of support from their husbands also contributed to delays in women receiving the necessary help and medical care, she noted.
She applauded the men who attended the outreach with their wives as she noted that it was a great emotional and moral support to the women.
“Our goal has been to involve the husbands in the process to ensure they support the women in decision-making, whether through financial assistance or by granting permission for them to seek treatment. By engaging their spouses, we aim to foster a supportive environment that encourages women to access the medical care they need,” Ramadhan said.
Kaduka Ngao who is the Sub-County Public Health Nurse and also the Reproductive Health Coordinator of Samburu Sub County said that it has been a tough journey, particularly considering that in Duruma Culture, women traditionally do not have the autonomy to make their own decisions.
“We made significant progress by educating these men through field health officers to explain the importance of women accessing various health services and treatments. As a result of this awareness campaign, we have observed that many men are now beginning to understand and support the need for women to receive proper healthcare, especially for Fistula,” Ngao said.
She went on to urge men not to isolate their wives when faced with these challenges but instead support them by going through the healing journey with them.
A fistula champion Rosemary Ega Charles narrated her first case scenario saying she endured over 40 hours of labour pain and subsequently suffered severe health issues during her first pregnancy then all through to her sixth one which got worse.
She noted that the condition made her isolate herself from her peers because of the uncontrollable foul smell that also made her husband isolate her.
After many years of struggling with the condition that caused her to uncontrollably release gas and be unable to control her bladder and bowel movements, she attended a cancer screening event at the chief’s council in Malomani.
The doctors examined her and diagnosed her condition to be a fistula that could be treated for free at Bomu Hospital.
“I went to the hospital for surgery and even before the six months recommended by the doctor had passed, I began to notice significant improvements and changes. By the time six months had elapsed, I had completely healed,” Rosemary said.
It was noted that once fistula is treated and the doctor’s instructions are fully adhered to, it is unlikely to recur. In some cases, doctors recommend that women who have been treated for fistula opt for a Caesarean section for future deliveries to prevent any potential complications.
By Fatma Said
