Helping women with fistula a State priority, says First Lady

First Lady Margaret Gakuo Kenyatta at the Kenyatta University Central Administration Complex during the opening of the International Conference on Reproductive Health and commemoration of World Fistula day.(Photo: PSCU)

Women suffering from fistula to seek maternal health care.

Speaking at the International Conference on Reproductive Health at Kenyatta University on Tuesday, First Lady Margaret Kenyatta said as the world commemorated Fistula Day, the Government had a duty to partner with health stakeholders to eradicate the condition.

This year’s Fistula Day theme focused on giving hope, healing, and dignity for  patients.

The conference focused on obstetric fistula, facilitating future action programmes, as well as gathering information to implement policies to be used to eradicate the condition.

It is estimated that at least two million poor women in the world are living with fistula. And in Kenya, about 3,000 women are affected, with most of them facing stigma.

Some 50,000 to 100,000 women worldwide are affected by obstetric fistula, which causes maternal mortality.

The First Lady said it was the Government’s priority to end fistula stigma and other health-related problems. While calling on universities to conduct extensive research on obstetric fistula, she noted that marriage of under-age girls ought to be addressed to stop their marginalisation.

“Seek out our hidden mothers who suffer from this problem to access health care. More needs to be done to prevent labour and related problems. Obstetric fistula is unacceptable and should not be allowed to persist. The forum presents us all with an opportunity to renew our commitment to ensure we are a generation that will end obstetric fistula.”

Ministry of Health Principal Secretary Julius Korir said the Government was committed to partnering with universities and scholars to conduct extensive research.

Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor Paul Wainaina said the institution would start fistula-related lessons to enlighten schoolgirls and mothers.

He stated that lack of resources and proper research methods were some of the setbacks that learning institutions were facing and called for partnerships.

“Universities have a responsibility to commence lessons on fistula. Fellowship and scholarship with the youth are very rare. I urge more post-graduates to pursue fistula research in Africa and the world,” said Prof Wainaina.

Many women in rural areas suffer from fistula because they delivered at home without the assistance of skilled birth attendants.