Adelaide Khabere Ganira is a 46-year-old mother of two daughters, aged 26 years and 24 years. Originally from Kaimosi in Western Kenya, Adelaide is a businesswoman who operates in Kiserian, Kajiado County. Adelaide has lived with a fistula for the last two decades. She talks about this journey.

“My experience began after I delivered my second child. While my first delivery was in hospital, I gave birth to my second child at home. I remember that day very clearly. On one night -about eight days to my Expected Due Date, my waters suddenly broke. This was followed by intense contractions.

Ripped Apart

I was at home with my mother, and unsure about what to do, she quickly rushed to the neighbour’s house for help. The neighbours however didn’t seem to know what to do as it was clear I was in the final stages of labor. Baby was just minutes away from arriving

When my baby started crowning, my screams grew louder and louder. My mother then became intensely worried that the baby’s head was getting stuck. Fearing that she would lose both her daughter and her grandchild, my mother quickly inserted her fingers inside me and manually extracted the baby. The pain was unbearable. I felt myself ripping apart.

Thankfully, baby came out safe.

Surgery not an Option

I however didn’t go to hospital immediately after the birth, only doing so two weeks later when I took my baby to the children’s clinic. While there, I told the doctors that I was having trouble controlling my stool. I would also pass wind unintentionally.

The doctor informed me that my birth experience at home had caused me to have a condition whose repair required surgery. He didn’t tell me the name of the condition. I was young and with no job, and neither did my mother have any money. Surgery was therefore not an option.

To manage my condition, I would be very selective about the foods that I ate. I only consumed foods that would not require me to pass stool often.

Marriage and a Third Baby?

My second birth had traumatized me enough, so I made sure I never got pregnant again. I got scared of getting married again because, wouldn’t my new husband demand a child from me? It’s not a thought I dared entertain so I closed that chapter.

I am a hairdresser and one day, as I was plaiting a client, I loudly passed wind. When my client asked me about it, I opened up to her about my story.

She told me that I had a ‘fistula’ -which was the first time I was putting a name to my condition. My client went on to share that her mother too once had a fistula, which was repaired successfully through surgery. She told me to be on the lookout for fistula medical camps which offer free surgeries.

Sharing my Fistula Story with Friends

In 2015, I got information about a free fistula medical camp, but my friend told me that it was only for those who leaked urine (VVF). Since I leaked stool only (RVF), I knew I didn’t qualify. However, I started talking more about my condition openly because I realized I was not the only one suffering from fistula. I even told my friends to keep their ears on the ground and let me know about any RVF camp that they would hear about.

One day, as I was plaiting yet another client, an advertisement ran on Citizen TV, calling on all women suffering from VVF and RVF to avail themselves at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) in Nairobi for free treatment. I listened very carefully and after confirming that they were treating RVF cases too, I quickly prepared myself and went to KNH.

A New Lease of Life

At the registration center, I was surprise to meet many other women like me. In fact, what shocked me most that there were many beautiful women who I would never have thought also suffered from fistula. I felt comforted. We spoke about our experiences and encouraged each other. It was a very empowering moment.

I am grateful to the organizers of the VVF/RVF camp, who have given me a new lease of life following my successful fistula repair surgery. I also encourage all those who hear the advertisements on radio and TV to share the information with all their friends and relatives – including those in the rural areas who may not have access to this information and help them access the medical camps.

So many activities take place during Christmas, ranging from church to social outdoor events. More often than not, history always repeats itself and so we keep doing the same things over and over again every Christmas, year in year out. Am not saying that anyone should go against their culture or ignore the practices put down by ones culture and/or community…but hey, why not try out something different this Christmas? A change is as good as a rest, so they say. I have a suggestion, why not toy with the idea of mountain climbing as this is something most of us hardly do. One can decide to go solo or with a group of friends, if you ask me, I prefer the latter as you get to have more fun especially if you are an extroverted kind of person.

So you may wonder and ask yourself which mountain in East Africa to climb! Without a doubt, Mount Kilimanjaro is the most climbed mountain in East Africa. What people don’t know is that there are also other mountains to explore, say Mount Kenya. Mount Kenya is one mountain one can never regret having climbed especially with its scenery which is very spectacular to say the least. Despite the fatigue and all other things that come with it, one gets to enjoy so many things while climbing this particular mountain.

Before proceeding with your adventure, you may want to get a travel cover for yourself which will ensure that the best first aid is administered to you and that you are airlifted to a hospital in case of any impromptu accidents. The Flying Doctors Society of Africa (FDSA) provides you with this travel cover. So please sign up for our travel cover and let us deal with the unexpected. Happy travels! Happy Holidays!

In most cases, December holidays see families and communities coming together and so a lot of traveling and even touring is involved. Hoping the cold season will make way for the warm season (we all want the heat creeping back into our bones), it’s time to stop this nesting and cocooning businesses, and get out there to discover new holiday destinations and festivals within East Africa during the coming December holidays.

While doing your December travels within East Africa, why not get a travel cover for yourself hence be assured that your life will be saved in case you got involved in any kind of accident. Not that this is something one should anticipate for, but then again, you never know when lightning may strike. Become a member of the Flying Doctors Society of Africa, who ensure you get to a well equipped hospital fast and also provide you with expert care in transit which could mean the difference between life and death. As a member of the Flying Doctors Society of Africa you are entitled to one free evacuation per year in case of a life threatening emergency that would necessitate the use of the flying doctors to transport you to a medical facility in Nairobi.

Christmas will soon be here with us! And a lot of events take place on Christmas day (at least that’s what happens where I come from) that see both adults and children participate. Question is, what next after Christmas day? What is it most of us do on Boxing Day? By this time, most people are beginning to get broke due to the huge amounts of money spent the previous day, others would be nursing hangovers, and others would be wondering what to do between this particular day and when that moment arrives when the new year gets to be ushered in. Well, I have a plan for you…why not visit Homa Bay as there are very intriguing events that take place in that neck of the woods.

For starters, there’s usually a sporting event where various football clubs from various counties get to take on each other. At times, teams playing in the national football league are also present at this very event. Anyone would totally love this, and even if you are not a fan of soccer, trust me you will love it…am talking from experience. However, there are other things to be enjoyed such as the cultural activities ranging from tribal dances, music festival, canoe regatta just to mention a few. The event kicks off on the 26^th of December through 31^st. I know most of us have never thought of being part of such an arrangement, and that’s why I still insist “a change is as good as a rest”. Have this on your radar screen, and as you plan your travels, consider getting a travel cover from the Flying Doctors Society of Africa. Happy travels!

Most people especially we East African locals only get to hear about this event on TV and the internet, and so we keep wishing that we could be part of it. Guess what! There’s a similar event in Kenya dubbed the “Mombasa carnival”, it takes place during the month of November and lasts for six days. How about having a “Rio carnival” away from Brazil.

As far as I know, Mombasa carnival is the best festival in Kenya. It’s an amalgamation of a number of activities which represent every race and cultural group in Kenya. Why not attend this festival hence get to enjoy the nice music (including traditional) and dancing, and also the brightly colored costumes that make everyone look different. It’s at this event you will happen upon artists and musicians of all kinds from all over Kenya, apart from enjoying their music, you also get to interact with them one on one. Every event usually has its highlights…the highlight of the Mombasa carnival is what intrigues me the most, there’s usually a lively street parade having people from all walks participating. What I have provided regarding the carnival is just a top line and so you need to attend the event yourself hence get to know what am really talking about. You will love and enjoy it.

Oh! Before this skips my mind. While enjoying all the things that the Mombasa carnival brings with it, head to the Muslim-run restaurants where you will get very nice/delicious and pocket friendly Swahili cuisine. Good luck while at it!

Planning an African safari is not an easy thing (at least not for me) and so, one might find themselves between a rock and a hard place especially if it involves two or more countries. For instance, let’s say you want to do a safari that involves visiting destinations that are located in two different countries say Kenya and Tanzania-am using these two countries as an example since they are the ones I have managed to tour in a single safari. Well, why not look for safari tours that visit both Kenya and Tanzania? This way, you will be able to kill many birds with a single stone! Plus, you are sure to find not only an ideal safari, but also that which will not exert too much weight on your wallet.

There are so many things one can enjoy while exploring Kenya and Tanzania. Usually, rather in my case, the safari departed Nairobi and the first stop was at the Masai Mara National reserve, commonly known to the locals as “The Mara”. In all honesty, I was amazed by this particular place-never knew it was such an intriguing place to be at. Just a sneak peek, Masai Mara is a large game reserve in South-Western Kenya which is marked by circles of trees, cloud shadows, savannas and scrubs. Here is where you will get a chance to witness the annual migration of wildebeest, zebra and Thomson’s gazelle which normally takes place between the months of July and October. I put it to you that this particular place is worth visiting, so why not mark it in your calendar and give it a try!

The next destination after Masai Mara was Lake Nakuru National Park then Amboseli National Park and finally Tanzania. The places I would recommend you visit in Tanzania are: Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro crater which is full of wildlife. Did I mention that I had a bird’s eye-view of Mount Kilimanjaro’s snowy peaks? Oh yes I did, and it was spectacular! Guess if am to visit Tanzania again, then Mount Kilimanjaro would be my first destination.

Finally, we all need travel covers…just to be on the safe side while doing our travels. Flying Doctors Society of Africa provides you with this. Please click here to see the various membership packages.

Before I made a trip to Burundi, I had this notion that it was not the best country to visit and so there’s no way anyone would have it on their radar screen…this was fueled by an article about Burundi I happened upon while surfing the internet. How wrong I was! On the contrary, this country has some amazing and wonderful things/places to do/visit – things that would tickle anyone’s fancy. Clearly, I had been living under a rock not to know about this bit. Actually I learned a lesson here; that we should not be fast to judge anything or anyone especially just because we heard or read something controversial about them.

In the past few years, Burundi has come out as a major tourist destination which is why you should consider visiting the country some day if not soon. I even have information that will give you some relief…Burundi being part of East Africa, you can acquire travel insurance cover from the Flying Doctors Society of Africa which caters for the health of individuals doing their travels within East Africa. For more information on the different packages, please click here

There are quite a number of places to visit in Burundi that would make your visit much more fun ranging from historic meeting place of Stanley and Livingstone, National Museum of Bujumbura, Kibira National Park and Craftwares Village at Giheta – at least these are some of the places I thought I would recommend to anyone if asked to. However, what I fell in love with the most is the Giheta’s Craftwares village. It’s here that I realized I had a thing for art, too bad I had to learn this after my teen years and only after visiting Burundi. But then again I have no regrets! They say, better late than never. At Craftwares you will gain new insights…you will gain knowledge regarding ivory, leather, wood carving, ceramics, sculptures and what I love the most which is paintings. For a moment, I felt like an artist even though am not really one.

National Museum and the craft-wares village in Burundi

Next time you want to go on holiday, consider visiting Burundi hence experience the good things it has to offer you!

Malindi has a number of historical sites such as Malindi old town, Gedi ruins etc, which are places worth visiting. Ever heard of dhow trips? Well, don’t worry if this sounds new to you because it did sound new to me as well, but that was before I visited Malindi…now I know better. A dhow is a traditional Arab sailing ship entirely made of wood, which has plied the waters of the East African Coast for more than a thousand years now. Its main purpose was to transport carpets and other goods between India and Africa. You need to check this out and while you are at it, you could do some sightseeing, have lunch or dinner cruises and also enjoy entertainment that includes limbo dancers, acrobats, fire-eaters just to mention a few…sounds fun huh!

Fishermen in Malindi, Kenya struggle to control a dhow

Everyone if not all love the beach, a place where you could relax and just do nothing or enjoy some “me” time or have fun with your friends and family…it all trickles down to enjoying yourself and having peace of mind! Who wouldn’t like this!?! Well, if this is what you are looking for then visit the different beaches in Malindi.

Last but not least, you need to visit the Marine National Park…this particular place is outstanding. The park is located to the south of Malindi town. What’s the hullabaloo all about? You ask yourself. Well, let’s just say Marine National Park is one of a kind as its gifted with fringing reefs, mangroves, high fish diversity, marine mammals…the list is endless.

A beach at Marine National Park, photo by Filip Lachowski

There are so many things about Malindi I would love to say! But trust me if I did, you will never get to hear (or should I say read) the end of it. So why don’t you just plan your travels and go experience all that I have mentioned, and even more.

Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

There are a number of things one can do while doing their travels in Africa, ranging from backpacking, culinary tours, going on safari, lazing on the beach, mountain climbing, just to mention a few. You can never miss something interesting to engage in, something that would make your stay much more fun and enjoyable.

If mountain climbing tickles your fancy, then visiting Mt. Kilimanjaro is something you should consider factoring into your radar screen. Mt. Kilimanjaro which is in Tanzania, is the highest mountain in Africa at 5,895 metres above sea level. It’s made up of three distinct volcanic cones namely Mawenzi, Shira and Kibo. However, before one can climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, it’s advisable to undertake apt research and also ensure that you are well equipped and physically capable as well-maybe it’s at this point you should start thinking of a travel insurance for your travels… Anyway, other mountains that offer adventurous climbing opportunities are Mt. Kenya, Mt. Elgon and Mt. Longonot all of which are found in Kenya.

Another very interesting thing you should have in your diary is going on a safari. Safari is a Swahili word meaning “to journey”. Many are times we tend to work ourselves to an early grave, without rest! Am sure whoever coined the phrase “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”, had a very good reason for this. Everyone needs a break from their normal and busy schedule, otherwise you might just have a full fledged melt down. Put your work and life stresses on the back burner for a bit and just have fun. And, there’s no better way of doing this other than going on a wildlife safari. Some of the very intriguing things you may happen upon are the “Big Five”, the great annual migration of wildebeest etc. Which makes me wonder, does one really need travel insurance for their travels?

Yes! We all do need a travel cover as you never know what might happen to you while you are on transit. The Flying Doctors Society of Africa provides travel cover for everyone living and/or traveling within East Africa. Membership to the Flying Doctors Society is open to all, and there are four membership packages one can choose from. To learn more about the different packages, visit our member section