Women in Migori County have been called upon to go for free fistula screening services to help rectify the condition and restore their dignity.
According to Kenyatta National Hospital Fistula Nurse Ms Beatrice Ogutu, the screening exercise has been ongoing at sub-county hospitals to identify those that may be having the condition and establish the nature of the disease.
Ogutu has noted that the screening services have identified 36 patients with fistula across the county of Migori County.
She noted that they were in the process of establishing if the 36 will undergo a fistula repair or other conservative management treatment modalities like physiotherapy to rectify the condition.
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Fistula is a devastating condition that manifests itself as an abnormal communication between the urinary bladder and birth canal, which leads to uncontrolled, continuous leakage of urine or faecal matter.
According to the flying doctors Africa report, it is estimated that fistula occurrence stands at 3 to 4 women for every 1,000 deliveries in Kenya.
Further, the report estimated that 3,000 new cases of fistula occur each year in Kenya with only 7.5 per cent able to access medical care for the condition with the most affected being women in rural areas.
Ogutu revealed that a patient will require Kes300,000 to repair Fistula which the majority of Kenyan households cannot afford.
Additionally, she said that the amount may even be higher if a patient with fistula has other lifestyle conditions like hypertension and diabetes.
On his part, Migori County Medical Superintendent Ian Omuom acknowledged that the County Referral hospital has adequately prepared to receive the fistula patients.
“The hospital management has already prepared the operating theater rooms, wards and pharmaceuticals for fistula repairs,” he said.
He affirmed that the majority of fistula patients undergo physiological issues because they are mentally depressed by the condition adding that hospital personnel will counsel the patients and offer guidance before subjecting them to fistula treatment.
The free fistula screening and reconstruction began on February 24 and ends on March 3 and is being supported by partners from the Flying Doctor Society, Safaricom Foundation and Amref among other local Non-Governmental Organisations.
