When the day arrived, Pendo was rushed to hospital as per plan. Although she delivered her firstborn the scars, she got in the process have remained to haunt her to date. “I struggled to deliver the baby but by God’s grace I managed to deliver a bouncing baby boy,” Pendo says jovially.

Pendo, 22, notes that at the time she was discharged from the hospital, she didn’t know she had a problem but it was upon arriving home she realized something was amiss.

“I thought it was just normal, perineal tears that occur when a woman delivers and heal after some few weeks but that wasn’t the case for me. I had suffered a fistula while going through the process of delivering. On top, part of my large intestine was injured by the doctor assisting me to deliver. I currently use colostomy for long calls,” explains Pendo.

The experience turned her life upside down. It’s at this time it dawned on her she was suffering from fistula. “It has been a painful journey. A walk of shame. Sometimes I ask God a lot of questions on why he allowed this to happen to me,” says a mother of one.

For now, Pendo is happy that her life will be back to normal as she has gone through a fistula repair surgery sponsored by M-PESA Foundation, The Flying Doctors Society of Africa and Royal Media Services. “This is an answered prayer for me and my husband for it has lifted a burden in our lives,” remarks Pendo.

Pendo, observes that although she has been treated for fistula, she is not out of the woods yet as she still needs help to treat the injury she suffered on her large intestine. “I am grateful I was among lucky people to be treated for fistula but still I need help because my system was tampered with as I have to use a tube while going for a long call,” he notes amid tears.

Pendo notes that if only he can get someone to help her recover from this condition, she will be grateful as she will get back to her hustles. “I would appreciate getting help to reconstruct my large intestines. This will help me go back to my day-to-day activities normally,” says Pendo.

According to Pendo’s husband, Kyengo Mwakamusha, their life was thrown into a dark phase in July 2021. This was in contrast to their expectations; of the warmth and joy the baby brings into a home. “Ours was a mixture of happiness and tears,” he remarks.

Kyengo, a bodaboda operator, notes that treating the fistula is expensive, especially for people doing manual jobs. He urges the government to put more attention to the health care of its people. He notes that most young people doing casual jobs are not in a position to provide their families with health coverage. He points out that good health is the key to the development of any nation.

Kyengo says that they had previously visited different hospitals but they were not lucky to be treated, “We are indeed touched by the generosity extended to us by the Flying Doctors Society of Africa together with partners for their services. They have salvaged us from the valley of shame.”

He further pleads for those in a position to help repair her wife’s system to assist them, “Utumbo wake uko nje hata akienda haja kubwa hutumia pipe,” says Kyengo. (Her intestines were affected during birth and even when going for a long call she has to use a pipe). He notes that he is currently not in a position to raise the money needed to amend that.

Pendo is happy that despite the hardship, pain and shame she has faced her husband has stood with her through it all. “I am grateful to my husband that he hasn’t abandoned me even a day despite the challenges. He has been working around the clock to meet our daily needs. He has been so loving, and supportive to me and my baby. I am thankful to God for him,” says Pendo as she showers her husband with praise.

Pendo notes that if all goes well she will go back to her work and help her husband in providing for the family. “I am good in plaiting and I am sure if I can get the support I can pursue a course in hairdressing so that I can assist my husband,” she notes adding the cost of living has slowed down her husband’s development projects.

“I delivered normally in hospital but I never thought I can be a victim of fistula having delivered children before,” remarks Loise.

I get to communicate with Loise through her daughter, Naomi Ngala, as she is not in a position to converse in Swahili. Loise is used to Giriama Language making it hard to express herself in either Swahili or English. Her daughter, fluent in Swahili and Giriama, is helping with translation.

According to Loise, the last 15 years have been hell on earth. Her activities have been limited around her homestead. She needs to be around her home to manage the condition.  Before she got her fifth child, Loise would help her husband attend their farm. “When you deliver normally with no complications you can go back to your work without worries after three months but this was not the case this time. I realized that sometimes I would pass urine without my knowledge. I think doctors erroneously tampered with my bladder while helping me deliver my last born,” she explains.

She notes that fistula could only be termed as today’s leprosy. “It’s an embarrassing condition. You find yourself leaking of urine. You don’t open up about it because you will be shunned or isolated because of it,” she adds.

Loise says that it is heartbreaking that an act of love can result in an embarrassing condition crippling, a woman’s, life. Women who do develop fistula are left incontinent and often susceptible to social stigma and shame. “It’s unfortunate that a woman’s life can be stopped because of trying to bring another life into the world.”

Seeking treatment…

Although she tried to visit the dispensaries around her village they didn’t help much as doctors in centers lacked sufficient knowledge and resources to treat her. The hospitals that were able to offer proper medication were out of reach. “I tried to seek treatment but the hospitals I would afford didn’t have a specialist. I was not in a position to afford the hospitals I would be referred to. They were as well miles away from my residence and I didn’t have financial support,” explains Loise, a Kiliti resident in Marereni, Kilifi.

At the time she developed this condition all her children were young and no one was in a position to support her or even seek more information about the condition. Her husband also was not a man of means hence making it hard to treat the condition.

Naomi, a second-born child of Loise, realized all was not well with her mother while in high school. “I was distressed by mother’s condition but I couldn’t help. At the time I was at school with no money, and of course naive. Initially, I didn’t ask her about the condition but as time passed she opened up to me,” Naomi says sorrowfully.

When she cleared her high school education Naomi left home and went to look for greener pastures in Mombasa. She aimed to know how she could rescue her mum from the fistula quagmire. It was while in Mombasa she heard of the fistula camp sponsored by M-PESA Foundation, Royal Media Services and The Flying Doctors Society of Africa.

“The first person who came into my mind when I heard about it was my mother. I registered her and followed it up and luckily, she has been treated. We are very grateful she is now free of ridicule and rejection,” says Naomi.

Now Loise has received successful surgical treatment, and she returns home with newfound confidence. Her self-worth has been restored. She will go back and help her husband attend their farm. “My husband knew I was ailing but we don’t talk about it. It’s a shameful thing to talk about. I am happy I will join him in our farming business,” she says.

The Flying Doctors Society of Africa helps women whose bodies have been broken by childbirth, receive life-transforming surgery, and enable them to go back to life the condition had denied them. Fistula is a childbirth injury, caused by prolonged obstructed labor. It usually affects women after first birth, leaving them destitute often turning them into social outcasts.

The average cost of fistula treatment – including surgery, post-operative care and rehabilitation services at the main referral hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) in Nairobi, which is prohibitive for many of those affected is about Kshs30,000. Sadly, most fistula patients are either unaware that treatment is available, or they cannot afford it.

For three years Emiline has been suffering from fistula. She has been eagerly waiting for the day she will get treated for the condition that crippled her. The condition developed while delivering her firstborn child in 2020.

Fistula is a condition that leaves women and girls leaking urine, faeces or both; as a result, it causes infections, pain, and bad smell, and often triggers stigma and the breakdown of family, work, and community life.

Emiline has before tried to seek treatment but her finances would not allow her to continue. She has therefore been suffering silently, waiting for the day she will get a Good Samaritan and help her treat the condition. The fact that she didn’t have support made it hard to treat the condition on her own. “I came to learn of the condition during clinic sessions. I tried to treat it but treating Fistula is expensive. I was once connected to a gynecologist and I would pay Ksh 2500 for consultation only. I didn’t have a financial marshal to continue,” explains Emiline, 35.

Emilline notes that the condition had stopped her life as she couldn’t go far away from her house. “I have always been extra careful not to mess up while away from home. It was so bad that I could carry extra clothes while visiting places I would stay for long hours although the visits were rare,” she says noting that she has never messed up and as it is embarrassing.

She, therefore prefers working from home as she babysits her only child. Here she is able to manage herself.

Husband Relationship…

Although her child is doing well Emiline notes that her husband left her when he learnt of the condition. “Before he used to love me but the moment he realized I could not control my bladder and I would leak urine, he abandoned me. I was in rude shock that no sooner had I opened up to him, about my condition, than he started abusing me. He distanced himself from me. To add insult to injury, she started talking ill about me,” she explains adding that her husband’s move affected her physiologically.

Her husband’s deed saw Emiline develop cold feet on marriage. “I am grateful that I still have friends who stood with me despite my husband’s actions. There are even men who have been hitting on me but I am hesitant to bow to their demands. I doubt they are different from my former husband. I fear if they learn of my condition they will leave. It’s hard for me to trust men. I will marry once I have recovered fully and at least get a person who is ready to settle with me,” she says noting that she hasn’t closed the marriage chapter completely.

After the departure of her husband Emiline wanted a shoulder to lean, an ear to listen and a hand to hold and that’s when she found solace in church. At church, she joined small units in women’s fellowship.  “I happen to be interacting with a fellow member, a retired nurse, who was like my mum. I opened up to her about my condition. She advised me on the fistula management method. She later told me of the Flying Doctor Society of Africa fistula campaigns and helped me to register for treatment,” she says advising women in the same predicament to share about the issue with trusted friends so they might find help.

According to the World Health Organization, fistula strikes roughly 50,000 to 100,000 women and girls every year, mainly in resource-poor countries in sub-Saharan Africa

Daughter’s love…

Although the birth of her daughter caused this condition she maintains that her daughter remains her source of joy and she can’t regret the decision. “It’s true I developed this condition while delivering my first born but not even the pain and stigma I have gone through can break the bond between me and her. She is my source of strength and joy,” she says happily.

Emiline notes its every woman’s joy to hold her baby despite the pain. “Holding a bundle of joy is every woman’s dream and I count myself lucky that I am privileged to be among women who have been blessed with a baby,” she emphasizes.

She notes that she has now started a new chapter in her life as her daughter has started school and she has as well got treated. ”I am happy that M-PESA Foundation, Flying Doctors Society of Africa and Royal Media Services has restored my dignity as a woman. I will now be able to work and look for our daily bread. I want to give my child the best education,” says Emalline a tailor.

When a baby comes into the world, it is a joyous occasion. There is often jubilation to welcome the newest member of the family. This was however not the case for Taabu when she delivered her baby in 2015. Taabu was expecting twins. Before the birth of the children, she was excited to receive her two bundles of joy. The joy was however short lived as her labour was marred with misfortune.

During labour, Taabu delivered the first child normally but unfortunately the child was still born. As if that was not enough, the second baby was not properly positioned to be delivered through natural birth forcing Taabu to undergo an emergency Caesarean section. During the procedure, there was a mistake and she developed vaginal fistula.

Unfortunately, Taabu has lived with this condition for 17 years. Because she had no proper understanding of her condition, she went on with her life and tried to accommodate the medical condition. She went on with her job as a casual labourer and tried to maintain her life as normal as possible. While her husband may have not abandoned her, he was not too concerned with her because he did not understand the condition.

Taabu was alive to the fact that she could not simply wish away the condition and tried to seek for medical help from different medical facilities, but nothing changed her situation. All she received were bags of medication which she took religiously but they offered her no permanent solution.

When the medical help bore no fruit, Taabu sought spiritual help and went for prayers to correct her condition. She still saw no change. She asked her friends and other women but none of them had a solution for her.

A week before the medical camp, while listening to the radio as she was going about her day, Taabu heard about the medical camp. She purposed to attend. 28^th March 2022 will be a memorable day for Taabu as it is the day, she receives normalcy in her life. Her corrective surgery was successful.

Taabu is excited at the possibilities the future holds. She is grateful to the Flying Doctors Society of Africa. She also encourages women suffering from fistula to be bold and come out to seek help. She states that she will take it upon herself to empower women about fistula and encourage them to come forward.

Hers is a special story. Jasmila lived a normal, fulfilling life until 2017 when she went to deliver her baby. She was enveloped by the joy of being a new mother. She had great prospects for her growing family. Unfortunately, her joy was short-lived. Jasmila had to undergo a caesarean section and delivered a still-born child. To add salt to injury, she suffered a bladder injury which resulted in fistula. Jasmila was unable to control her urine flow.

She sought medical assistance and was given some medication. She was also asked to exercise to strengthen her pelvic muscles. These helped with the urine flow; however, her menstrual blood would flow out of the urethra instead of the vagina. This experience was not only uncomfortable but also traumatic especially because the flow was unmanageable. She went for several medical examinations but nothing solved or eased her condition.

Her condition severely affected her family and social life. She could no longer relate with her husband which strained their marriage. Further, she could not mingle with family and friends. Her movement and relations were constrained.

She reached out to friends and family for assistance but the reception was not the best. Some told her that she was cursed and needed to seek spiritual intervention. Some even recommended that she should reach out to native doctors for assistance. This only added to her misery and frustrations.

Luckily, Jasmila caught wind of the medical camp hosted by the Flying Doctors Society of Africa and presented herself at the clinic for help. She was assessed and scheduled for corrective surgery. On 28^th March, Jasmila underwent the corrective surgery and is currently recovering.

Jasmila feels as though she has been given a new lease of life. She has high hopes for herself and her family. She promises to demystify the myths and change perceptions around fistula and empower women within her community.  She is extremely grateful to the M-pesa Foundation and Flying Doctors Society of Africa for coming to her rescue.

In October 2020 Elina underwent a myomectomy. This is a surgical procedure to remove fibroids from the uterus. Elina had suffered from fibroids for 10 years. The procedure was going to relieve her of a lot of discomfort. She had anticipated living and enjoying improved quality of life. It had not crossed her mind that anything could go wrong. The procedure was successful however, after four months, she suffered vaginal fistula. She was unable to control her urine flow.

It was at this point that Elina discovered that she had suffered an injury during her procedure. She traversed Kilifi County seeking medical assistance to no avail. She took numerous pills prescribed to her hoping that she would get some relief, but nothing changed.

Elina was extremely unhappy. Her life had completely changed. She could not socialize with her friends and family members. She could not enjoy the little pleasures of life such as attending weddings, which are a grand occasion in the Mijikenda culture. She had to wrap herself in a polythene bag while going to bed to avoid soiling the bedding. This made it difficult for her to leave her home. Elina could also not continue carrying out her casual jobs. She was confined to being within her home. Lucky for her, her husband was very supportive. Despite not understanding what the problem was, he was by her side throughout her illness.

In a bid to get assistance, Elina spoke to a few women to inquire whether they had either experienced fistula or knew of it.   Lucky for her, some of her friends had heard about the Flying Doctors Society of Africa’s medical camp that was to take place at Kilifi. To further affirm this, Elina heard the announcement of the camp on radio, and she purposed to attend.

On 28^th March, Elina made her way to Kilifi County hospital where she was examined to confirm that she does qualify for the corrective surgery. On the same day, Elina went under the knife and the fistula repaired. She is feeling better and happy with the results.

Having successfully received surgery and is in the process of recovery, Elina is overjoyed at the promise her life now holds. She is excited to resume her social activities within her community. She says she cannot wait to be free again. She is grateful to the M-pesa Foundation, Flying Doctors Society of Africa and all the partners for the noble job they are doing. She urges other women with the condition not to shy away from seeking from help and sharing their plight as they do not know who may have a solution for them.