Kenya’s First Lady, Mrs Margaret Kenyatta, last Friday officially launched the 8th National Free Fistula Annual Medical Camp in Nairobi. The First Lady also flagged off an awareness walk to mark the beginning of the two-week camp, which runs from June 28 to July 12. The camp has been organised by AMREF in collaboration with the Kenyatta National Hospital and the Freedom from Fistula Foundation.
Mrs Kenyatta stressed the need to enhance the capacity of the health system to prevent and repair vaginal vesical fistula (VVF), which is one of the gravest dehumanising conditions affecting women. She called out to partners to support AMREF and Kenyatta National Hospital to enable them to continue offering free reconstructive services, particularly for women in remote and rural areas.
Vaginal Vesico Fistula (VVF) commonly known as obstetric fistula, is a pregnancy-related injury that causes a split in the birth canal. The condition leads to involuntary discharge of urine and sometimes faeces, causing emotional devastation and social stigma for the affected women and their families.
Speaking at the launch, AMREF Director General Dr Teguest Guerma said: “At AMREF, we are focusing on maternal health because we know that women are the heart of families and heart of the community. We are also keen on strengthening partnerships with the Government to ensure that proper care for women is achieved.”
Referring to the year’s theme of ‘Capacity Building for VVF care in Kenya’, Dr Lennie Bazira Kyomuhangi, AMREF Kenya Country Director, pointed out that the VVF camps are also a forum for training doctors on how to perform surgical repairs. “Such collaborative efforts between AMREF and its partners aim to address the issue of shortage of medical specialists,” she said.
Obstretic Fistula affects between 50,000 to 100,000 women of all ages and accounts for eight per cent of maternal deaths in the world. In Kenya, it affects at least 1,000 women annually. Since 2006, AMREF’s VVF camps have transformed the lives of over 2,000 women from poor backgrounds by providing surgical repair free of charge.
AMREF is a transparent organisation distributing funds of up to $85 million per year.
