Over 400 Women Receive Life-Changing Fistula Treatment in Murang’a as Kenya Intensifies Fight Against Maternal Health Crisis

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 More than 400 women and girls have undergone life-changing screening, treatment, and corrective surgery for obstetric fistula during a week-long medical camp held at Murang’a County Referral Hospital, in a major boost to maternal healthcare access in the region.

The initiative, which brought together partners including the M-Pesa Foundation, the Ministry of Health Kenya, and the Murang’a County Government, saw a total of 449 patients mobilized, with those diagnosed receiving free surgery, counselling, and physiotherapy.

Health experts say the intervention comes at a critical time, as Kenya continues to grapple with an estimated 120,000 untreated fistula cases, driven by delays in accessing emergency obstetric care, complications during childbirth, and a shortage of specialized surgeons.

According to fistula nurse and trainer Christine Muthengi, some of the patients had lived with the condition for decades, with cases dating back as far as 1991. Many suffered in silence after being abandoned by spouses and isolated by their families due to the stigma associated with the condition.
“Obstetric fistula is a devastating childbirth injury that causes chronic incontinence, deep physical trauma and social isolation. Many women are forced into hiding for years because of shame,” she said.

Muthengi highlighted stigma as one of the biggest barriers to treatment, noting that many women fail to seek medical care due to fear and lack of awareness about the condition.

Despite Murang’a County recording strong maternal health indicators — including a 96 percent skilled birth attendance rate and relatively low teenage pregnancy levels — challenges such as poverty, early and unintended pregnancies, misdiagnosis, and delays in emergency care continue to expose women to the risk of fistula.

The camp, which ran for one week and concluded Friday, forms part of a broader national effort to restore dignity and improve quality of life for affected women.
Speaking during the closing of the programme, Patricia Ithau, a trustee of the M-Pesa Foundation, emphasized the transformative impact of the initiative.

“No woman should have to suffer in silence. Fistula surgery may seem simple, but the transformation it brings to a woman’s dignity, health, and future is profound,” she said.

To support the programme, the foundation invested KES 8.1 million, part of a larger KES 213 million commitment that has already enabled more than 1,500 women in high-burden counties to access treatment and rebuild their lives.

Clinical support for the camp was provided by partners including the Amref Health Africa and the Flying Doctors Society of Africa, helping strengthen Kenya’s long-term capacity to manage fistula cases.

The initiative underscores growing collaboration between government and private sector actors in tackling maternal health challenges and ensuring that no woman is left behind in accessing essential reproductive healthcare.

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