Kenya marks Fistula Day with urgent call for investment

Renewed and urgent calls for increased investment rang out at Jamaa Mission Hospital as Edelvale Trust and the Fistula Foundation commemorated the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula, aiming to wipe out a devastating childbirth injury that continues to shatter thousands of lives across Kenya and other developing nations.

This year’s global theme, “Her Health Is a Right: Invest to End Fistula and Childbirth Injuries,” highlights the pressing need to strengthen maternal healthcare systems, tackle deep-rooted gender inequalities, and guarantee every woman access to safe childbirth services—especially in rural and underserved communities where vulnerability remains highest.

Speaking at the event, Nelson Musa, Program Director of the Fistula Foundation, emphasized that obstetric fistula is far more than a medical condition.

“Obstetric fistula is a painful reminder of the inequalities still embedded in our healthcare systems,” Musa said. “Behind every number is a mother, a daughter, a sister enduring unimaginable suffering, often in silence.

“Today is not just about raising awareness, it is about renewing our commitment to invest in maternal healthcare, train more specialized surgeons, and support survivors as they rebuild their lives,” noted Musa.

Obstetric fistula, a severe childbirth injury resulting from prolonged, obstructed labor without timely medical intervention, often leaves women with chronic incontinence. Beyond the physical pain, survivors frequently face social stigma, rejection and isolation.

In Kenya alone, an estimated 1,000 to 3,000 new cases are recorded each year. Yet only a fraction of affected women receive life-changing surgical treatment due to poverty, limited awareness, and inadequate access to specialized healthcare.

Partners at the event underscored the importance of strengthening community-based healthcare systems by training health workers, midwives, and community health promoters to identify high-risk pregnancies early and facilitate timely referrals for emergency obstetric care.

They also called for sustained community sensitization campaigns to break the silence, dispel myths, and end the stigma surrounding fistula.

Speaking on behalf of Jamaa Mission Hospital, Rachel Muthoni reaffirmed the facility’s dedication to expanding access to maternal healthcare. The commemoration concluded with renewed pledges to ensure that no woman suffers in silence from a preventable childbirth injury.