The exercise began on September 16 and runs until Friday, September 19, 2025. /AI
Hundreds of women in Kisumu County have been offered a lifeline through a free fistula screening campaign aimed at breaking stigma and restoring dignity for those suffering in silence.
The exercise, which began on September 16 and runs until Friday, September 19, 2025, is spearheaded by Gynocare Women’s and Fistula Hospital in partnership with the Kisumu County Department of Health.
The initiative seeks to confront the stigma around the condition while linking women to treatment.
The programme targets women with symptoms of obstetric fistula—a debilitating condition that causes uncontrollable leakage of urine or stool, often resulting from prolonged or obstructed labour.
According to the Ministry of Health, more than 3,000 new fistula cases are reported in Kenya every year, though experts warn the figures could be higher due to stigma and underreporting.
Joseph Koech, a specialist fistula nurse at Gynocare, noted that Kisumu is among the counties with a high prevalence of cases.
He said the free screening aims to identify women suffering in silence and connect them to care.
“We are focusing on vesico-vaginal and recto-vaginal fistula, as well as third- and fourth-degree birth injuries. These women often suffer in isolation, yet the condition is treatable,” Koech said.
To widen its reach, the campaign is being publicised through local radio stations, community health promoters, and barazas convened by chiefs and church leaders.
Services include medical consultation, counselling, and treatment for conditions with similar symptoms such as urinary tract infections.
While turnout has been modest, organisers said the drive is a vital step in encouraging women to come forward.
Those requiring surgery are being referred to Gynocare’s main facility in Eldoret, where patients receive reconstructive surgery, psychological support, and rehabilitation.
Beyond treatment, survivors are supported through follow-up calls, vocational training in tailoring, and school enrolment for younger patients to aid their recovery and reintegration.
One beneficiary, Janet Akoth, urged the county government to make fistula screening an annual initiative and integrate its management into maternal health programmes.
“Fistula is preventable if mothers deliver safely and receive timely medical intervention. The county government must strengthen maternal healthcare while also supporting those already affected,” she said.
