Gladys Masiembe is a 52-year-old woman. She comes off as very confident and open. She narrates that she is married and has eight children. She first suffered fistula in 1995 after having her first child. Gladys had prolonged labour and delivered a generally heavier than average baby. The baby was four kilograms heavy. She laboured …Read More

Caroline Naliaka Wafula is a 30-year-old mother of four living in Sikanga village in Bungoma County. She sounds aloof but agrees to proceed with the interview. Having dropped out of school in class five, Caroline got married at an early age and resultantly bore children while still young. She had her first child in 2011 …Read More

Caren 47-year-old Caren is a ball of energy and confidence.You can tell from her speech. Life has, however, not been a bed of roses for her. She gave birth to eight children unfortunately, she has only four living children. Caren has been living with fistula for the past 33 years. She was 14 when she …Read More

End Female Genital Fistula May 23 is the United Nations’ (UN) International Day to End Female Genital Fistula. This is a day which promotes action towards treating and preventing Female Genital Fistula. This year’s theme is “Women’s rights are human rights! End fistula now!” To mark this year’s celebrations, Flying Doctors Society of Africa in partnership with …Read More

Speaking with Elizabeth on phone, I sense her calmness in her speech noting that is exceptionally composed. Elizabeth is a 38-year-old mother of three who lives in Kilifi. She delivered her last-born child in November 2018. She delivered normally but suspects that she suffered extensive tears because at the time of delivery she had to …Read More

Marie is a very strong and outspoken 34-year-old mother of two. When we approach her for the interview, we find her talking to younger mothers in the ward. She is a staunch Christian and attributes her strength to persevere through fistula and receiving free treatment to God. Marie has been suffering from fistula since June …Read More

Mary sits shyly on her hospital bed. You can tell that she wishes the bed would swallow her. Even in her shyness, you can see a slight smile, perhaps one of contentment and relief. Mary is a 22-year-old girl from Gataka, Ngong. She has been living with fistula since August 2020 when she delivered her …Read More

Sandra sounds nervous but excited on the other end of the phone as she speaks to me. She is a 34-year-old mother of three. Unfortunately, she has only two living children. Sandra suffered a miscarriage during the sixth month of her last pregnancy. Sandra suffered fistula in 2015. She was unable to seek any medical …Read More

We met 45-year-old Catherine Chebet at the 13th Fistula National Camp held at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) in July 2019. A teary but beaming Catherine, who hails from Bomet county, shared her fistula journey with us. “My second pregnancy was one that I enjoyed; it was smooth without any complications. However, the outcome was …Read More

33-year-old Beth Cecilia Piyai from Kajiado county is a mother of five. Her children –all boys -are aged 11 years, 9 years, 7 years, 5 years and 2 years. After delivering her lastborn child two years ago, Beth, an unemployed widow, developed a fistula, and had no means to have it repaired. But as from …Read More