By Our Reporter
Kajiado County Women have benefitted from a free medical camp hosted by the County Government of Kajiado in collaboration with Margaret Kenyatta the First Lady of the Republic of Kenya’s Beyond Zero Initiative and other partner organizations.
The free medical camp that included fistula surgery and eye treatment was held in Kajiado County Referral hospital.
The women who received free fistula surgery have been suffering silently with the disease.
Fistula is an abnormal connection via a tunnel-like hole between two organs or vessels.
Fistulas can occur in various parts of the body. In women, fistulas involving the genital and urinary tracts are the most common and happen due to prolonged or obstructed childbirth, injury during pelvic surgery, infection, inflammation, or radiation treatment in the pelvis or genital area.
Trachoma is also a major health challenge in Kajiado County, causes are limited access and use of water, limited face washing and poor sanitation.
Kajiado County is among trachoma endemic counties in the country others are Samburu, Narok, West Pokot and Baringo.
Kajiado County First Lady Edna lenku said many women fear getting treatment due to society misinformation.
“The society does not want to associate themselves with those with fistula, those infected do not even attend parties since some people do not want to use their utensils,” she said.
When the medical camp started, they received many women from outside the counties.
“Since the onset of the camp, we have managed to screen over 100 fistula patients from different counties including Bomet, Marsabit, Machakos, Nairobi and Kajiado. Out of these, 29 women were confirmed to have fistula, and 17 of them have already undergone successful free surgeries. More patients are still flowing in and the numbers are likely to increase due to intensified community mobilization” said Mrs Lenku.
UNFPA Kenya Representative, Anders Thomsen called for greater efforts in health system strengthening for prevention and treatment of fistula.
The Chief Executive Officer for Flying Doctors Society of Africa, Tanya Nduati called for an integrated approach in the treatment of fistula encompassing community education on prevention and availability of treatment, counselling and reintegration of patients.
Beyond Zero Coordinator Angella Langat encouraged women and girls who suffer constant incontinence to come for free fistula screening and have their dignity restored.
Many women have been divorced because they suffer from fistula, some men are not aware of the disease and associate it with other society curses.