How I survived Fistula - Sharon Korir's story

If anyone had told Sharon Korir what would follow after receiving her second bundle of joy, she would not have believed it.

As a mother of two, an Advocate of the High Court, and a teacher, Sharon faced an unexpected and life-altering ordeal after the birth of her second child, leading her to create a foundation that now aids countless women.

Sharon Korir is the founder of Save A Woman Fistula Foundation, an organization dedicated to raising awareness about fistula and providing support to women suffering from this condition.

Fistula, a severe childbirth injury, causes a tear from the vagina to the rectum, resulting in the uncontrollable leakage of urine and stool.

In an interview with Citizen Digital, Sharon shared her harrowing experience.

During the birth of her second child, she endured prolonged labour. After being discharged from the hospital, she began to notice that she was leaking urine and faeces, a situation that profoundly affected her social life and marriage.

"When I got home I started feeding very well, to try and get back my baby’s immunity is when I realized, how come stool is coming out of my vagina and I am unable to control urine," Sharon narrates.

Initially, Sharon was at a loss, hiding from the world for six months due to the shame and discomfort caused by her condition. It was only after confiding in her sister that she found a path to diagnosis and treatment. Her sister recommended she visit Kenyatta Hospital, where Royal Media Services was offering free fistula screenings. There, Sharon was diagnosed with obstetric fistula.

"After Six weeks in that state is when I called my sister-in-law, she is a nurse in Kenyatta and I told her you know this is what I am going through, it is not easy, I don’t know whether it is normal, is it that I have gone crazy, so many things and she told me she suspects I have Fistula," she adds.

Sharon underwent surgery and thankfully recovered well. This life-changing experience inspired her to establish the Save A Woman Fistula Foundation. Her foundation now plays a crucial role in helping women who face similar struggles, providing them with much-needed support and creating greater awareness about fistula.