Medical camp offers free fistula surgeries

A two-week free medical camp for obstetric fistula patients kicked off Friday at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) to benefit 100 women.

The Vesico Vaginal Fistulla (VVF) Medical camp is a collaboration between the KNH, the Flying Doctors Society of Africa and Freedom from Fistula Foundation (FFF).

The KNH has dedicated a special team including doctors, nurses and its Specialized Reproductive Health clinic 66 for the surgical medical camp.

The camp, which ends on July 18, is funded by the FDSA and FFF to the tune of Sh7 million.

Similar medical camps will be rolled out later this year in Embu and Kisii at the respective County and District Hospitals.

“One of our key goals in addition to offering reconstructive surgery is training local surgeons on fistula surgery,” said Dr Eunice Kiereini, the chairman of FDSA.

It is estimated that occurrence of obstetric fistula in Kenya stands at 3 to 4 women in every 1000 deliveries.

According to data from a 2011 report by Campaign to End Fistula, there are about 1,000 to 3,000 new cases of fistula every year in Kenya, with only 7.5% able to access medical care for the condition.