The Ministry of Health (MOH), in collaboration with other health stakeholders, has officially launched the Obstetric Fistula Routine Services Playbook.
The event took place during the national celebrations of the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula held at Gusii Stadium in Kisii town.
The playbook is a strategic user-friendly guide developed to support counties in effectively delivering routine obstetric fistula prevention, treatment and comprehensive care services.
Speaking at the event, the Ministry of Health Representative Dr Denver Mariga said the playbook will empower health managers and providers to strengthen service delivery models for fistula prevention and repair, enhance early detection and referral mechanisms, improve community awareness and reduce stigma and monitor and evaluate outcomes for continuous improvement.
“The development of this playbook was informed by lessons that have been learnt from our partners, practitioners and communities in Makueni County,” noted Dr Mariga.
He pointed out that the launch of the playbook marked a critical step forward in the ministry by institutionalizing the quality of fistula care and accelerating progress toward a fistula-free nation.
“With this launch, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that no woman is left behind in accessing safe, dignified and timely maternal health care,” noted Dr Mariga.
The event also saw the launching of the surgeon’s training manual that will ensure consistency in clinical practice, promote quality care and ultimately contribute to the elimination of obstetric fistula in Kenya.
According to the Ministry of Health, it is estimated that over 3,000 new cases of obstetric fistula are recorded annually in Kenya, and many affected women continue to suffer in silence due to shame, socio-economic barriers and limited access to medical care.
As a result, Dr Mariga noted the ministry had conducted over 5,000 fistula surgeries together with their health partners over the last five years.
“We have also intensified community sensitization campaigns and equipped the healthcare facilities like Makueni County Teaching and Referral Hospital to be able to provide routine basic and comprehensive obstetric care services including repair,” he added.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Kisii Deputy Governor, Governor Simba Arati noted that obstetric fistula remains one of the most devastating childbirth injuries that can cause chronic incontinence, deep physical trauma and social isolation.
According to the governor, Kisii County recorded a total of 420 women who underwent repair as a result of fistula-related complications at the health facilities last year.
“In the last six days of the free fistula camp at the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital, we have also received more than 50 women suffering from fistula who need surgery and this shows that we still have a huge burden among our women,” Arati added.
The County Boss said they had taken deliberate measures to address the condition including expanding maternal and newborn health services, training and deploying skilled birth attendants across the health facilities, and strengthening referral systems and emergency obstetric care, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas.
He lauded the Ministry of Health, UNFPA, Amref, Fistula Foundation, Flying Doctors and other partners for supporting fistula treatment camps across the county.
“These camps have provided free surgical repairs and medical care to women who have often suffered in silence and shame for years,” noted Arati.
The Governor also reaffirmed the county’s strong commitment to expanding access to quality fistula treatment, embracing routine fistula screening and treatment, and training medical personnel in specialized care.
In addition, he encouraged the partners to ensure fistula survivors are fully re-integrated into the society by offering psychological support and trauma counseling and empowering them through skill development and support for small businesses.
The World Health Organization (WHO) statistics show that about 50,000 to 100,000 women worldwide are affected by obstetric fistula, a condition that is one of the major causes of maternal mortality through obstructed labour.
The organization also estimates that more than 2 million young women live with untreated obstetric fistula in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.
By Mercy Osongo
