Women suffering from obstetric fistula in Kilifi and the broader North Coast region can now find hope with the launch of a new 60-bed hospital in Malindi town.
The Habitat Mother and Child Holistic Health and Training Hospital, established by the Women and Development Against Distress in Africa (WADADIA), will provide free treatment for fistula patients.
This facility is only the second of its kind in the region, after Bomu Hospital, which has been overwhelmed by the high number of patients.
Despite the relief brought by the new hospital, the challenge of insufficient equipped facilities and a lack of specialized doctors persists, affecting over 3,000 women across Kenya.
Health experts are calling on the government and its partners to invest in more such hospitals and to train more doctors specializing in fistula treatment to meet the growing demand.
Edward Serem, Deputy Director of Health in Kilifi, emphasized the need for greater investment in healthcare infrastructure adding that, “Because these are women who are rejected by the community, they live a life like an outcast. So, these are the women we have been attending to and this kind of treatment we have been offering for free.”
Obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Anthony Wanjala echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of specialized training for healthcare professionals.
“The aim is to be able to operate on over 100 women and as it is so far, we may actually hit 200 because the demand is so much,” said Wanjala.
The lack of awareness about fistula prevention and treatment in rural communities, particularly among women, has contributed to the increasing number of cases.
Kilifi Deputy Governor Flora Chibule and other officials have urged for more public education to address this issue.
“Sensitization in villages is still low, especially in areas that do not align with the ocean. That is where we get a higher number of cases,” she noted.
Since its inception, WADADIA has successfully performed over 6,000 fistula surgeries across 14 counties.
Obstetric fistula, a debilitating condition caused by prolonged labor or injuries during childbirth, leads to an abnormal connection between the rectum and birth canal. This new hospital offers a much-needed lifeline to those suffering from this condition in the region.
