Kilifi Women Get Free Fistula Surgeries as M-Pesa Foundation, First Ladies Join Campaign

County First Ladies and health partners have stepped up efforts to prevent and treat female genital fistula through a free surgical camp at Marafa Sub-County Hospital in Kilifi County.

The camp, running from October 2 to October 9, is giving women living with fistula an opportunity to access free treatment as partners seek to address the health and social challenges associated with the condition.

The initiative is organised by the M-Pesa Foundation in partnership with the County First Ladies Association (CFLA), the County Government of Kilifi, the Flying Doctors’ Society of Africa (FDSA) and Amref Health Africa.

County First Ladies visited the facility on October 7, where they met women undergoing treatment and interacted with healthcare workers involved in the surgical outreach.

Fistula Is A Challenge

Speaking during the visit, Marsabit County First Lady and CFLA chairperson Alamitu Guyo Jattani said fistula remains a challenge that requires sustained intervention beyond individual medical camps.

“Fistula is a condition affecting many women in Kenya and needs to be taken care of every day, not just when a camp takes place,” she said.

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Jattani also highlighted the link between fistula and harmful practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM), particularly in parts of Northern Kenya, while calling for expanded interventions across the country.

The outreach has so far screened more than 100 women, with 29 admitted for treatment and 12 surgeries successfully conducted, according to M-Pesa Foundation Senior Manager, Foundations Programmes, Dr Henry Kilonzo.

M-pesa Foundation

Kilonzo said the programme forms part of a wider commitment by the M-Pesa Foundation to support 2,200 fistula surgeries across Kenya’s 47 counties by 2028.

“We started this more than 10 years ago, and we have seen what it means to give women back their lives afresh, because the stigma and discrimination associated with fistula come to an end after a few minutes’ surgical procedure,” he said.

Earlier in the week, the partners also held a strategic leadership engagement and surgical outreach in Kilifi, bringing together county officials, healthcare workers and development partners to discuss ways of strengthening fistula prevention, treatment and follow-up services.

Female genital fistula is a serious condition that can occur following prolonged or obstructed labour, resulting in continuous leakage of urine or stool.

Effects Of Fistula

In Kenya, an estimated one to two women develop fistula for every 1,000 deliveries, translating to approximately 3,000 new cases annually.

The condition can also have significant social and psychological effects, with affected women facing stigma, isolation and depression, which may interfere with their ability to work and participate in community and family life.

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The campaign is being implemented under the theme “Fistula Inatibika – Restoring Dignity of Women and Girls in Kenya.”

The integrated fistula programme, launched in September 2025, is currently in its second phase and combines prevention, treatment and health-system strengthening as part of broader efforts to eliminate fistula in Kenya.

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County first ladies and health practitioners in Kilifi County
PHOTO/File