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Author Archives: Maryanne W. Waweru

Maryanne is an award-winning Kenyan motherhood blogger who publishes on her online platform www.mummytales.com. She is also a journalist specializing in human interest and health reporting, with a bias in maternal and child health. She is based in the capital city of Nairobi.

Despite Losing our First Child and Developing Fistula, My Husband Has Remained by My Side

In 2003, at the age of 20 years, Caroline Kemunto discovered she was pregnant. The new wife was excited, elated at the thought of becoming a new mother – the dream of almost every woman. It was a smooth pregnancy -one that she enjoyed, and which thankfully, was devoid of any complications. If only she …Read More

The Teacher who Kept Away from the Staff Room

43 year-old Hellen Cherotich Sanga describes the last nine years of her life as a ‘complete nightmare’. It all began after the birth of her second child –ironically, an event that is supposed to bring a mother untold joy and happiness. “Even though I delivered in hospital under the guidance of skilled birth attendants, something …Read More

“I Lost my Marriage Because of Fistula” -Nankin Sampei

For years, 55 year-old Nankin Sampei from Kilgoris, in Kenya’s Rift Valley province had enjoyed a relatively stable marriage. It was a marriage that had been blessed with seven children, and in a culture that revers large families – the traditional Maasai family, Nankin was a happy woman. The livestock farmer was even more elated …Read More

“My Genital Area is Dry. I’ve Never Experienced This my Whole Life.” Rose Nyambura’s Story

This year’s free fistula medical camp organized by the Flying Doctors Society of Africa and the Freedom from Fistula Foundation took place between 11 – 18 June 2015 at the Kenyatta National Hospital. Among the recipients of this noble venture was Rose Nyambura, a 31 year-old single mother of one. Rose, from Murang’a County in …Read More

I Haven’t Laughed in Over Five Decades -The Rose Mwikali Story

At the prime age of 25 years, Rose Mwikali carried her pregnancy with great joy, excited at the thought of meeting her newborn. It was the first child for Mwikali, now aged 87 years who hails from Kitui County in the Eastern part of Kenya. When she finally began experiencing labor pains, Mwikali decided to …Read More

Finally, I’m Stepping Out of my ‘Prison’ -Irene Kerubo’s Story

Ten years ago, 23 year-old Irene Kerubo delivered her baby at a hospital in Kisii town in Nyanza province, Western Kenya. But her childbirth experience is one she would rather forget. It was a difficult birth for the young girl barely out of puberty, a prolonged labour and painful birth that had no happy ending …Read More

Life Begins at 81 Years –The Beatrice Wambui Story

On one cold Friday evening in July, we meet 81 year-old Beatrice Wambui at the Kenyatta National Hospital. The elderly mother of three hails from Gatundu South, a constituency in Kiambu County, Central Kenya. We find Beatrice seated on her bed, sipping a hot mug of brown porridge. But seeing her mother comfortably sip on …Read More

Fistula in Kenya: The Facts and The Needed Approaches

What is Obstetric Fistula (VVF)? Obstetric (or Vesico-Vaginal fistula –VVF) is a devastating condition that affects poor rural women and girls across the continent. It manifests itself as an abnormal communication between the urinary bladder and vagina, which leads to uncontrolled, continuous leakage of urine and/or fecal matter (for RVF cases). The World Health Organization …Read More

Success at the July 2014 Free Fistula Medical Camp at Kenyatta National Hospital

The free fistula medical camp taking place at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) with the support of among others; the Flying Doctor’s Society of Africa (FDSA), Freedom from Fistula Foundation, KNH and Citizen Television has come to a successful close. “It was a very successful camp and we are glad to have helped facilitate the fistula …Read More

Eric Otieno: Why I Have Always Been By my Wife Melvin Nyamao’s Side as She Struggled with Fistula for Ten Years

Two days ago, we spoke to Melvin Nyamao about her journey with vesicovaginal fistula (VVF). All through her days at the Kenyatta National Hospital where the free medical camp  –supported by among others Flying Doctors Society of Africa, KNH, Freedom from Fistula Foundation and Citizen Television, there was the notable presence of one man –Melvin’s …Read More