UNFPA joined the Ministry of Health, healthcare workers, partners, and survivors at Kenyatta National Hospital to commemorate the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula.
The commemoration reaffirmed the urgent need to invest in prevention, timely treatment, skilled birth attendance, and survivor-centred care to eliminate obstetric fistula and restore dignity for affected women and girls.
Speaking during the event, Nelson Musa, Program Director at the Fistula Foundation, described obstetric fistula as more than a medical condition, calling it a reflection of deep healthcare inequalities.
The campaign highlighted the need to strengthen maternal healthcare systems, address gender inequalities, and ensure that every woman, especially in rural and underserved areas, has access to safe childbirth services.
He noted that behind every case is a woman enduring physical suffering, social stigma, and isolation.
Health experts emphasised that obstetric fistula, caused by prolonged obstructed labour without timely medical intervention, remains largely preventable with access to emergency obstetric care.
In Kenya, an estimated 1,000 to 3,000 new obstetric fistula cases are reported each year. However, only a small percentage of affected women can access corrective surgery due to challenges such as poverty, financial constraints, limited awareness about available treatment, shortages of specialised healthcare services, and inadequate access to medical care in rural and underserved communities.
Stakeholders called for increased investment in maternal healthcare systems, expanded training for midwives and healthcare workers, and stronger referral systems to support women experiencing high-risk pregnancies and childbirth complications.
Health partners also stressed the importance of community awareness campaigns aimed at ending stigma against fistula survivors, correcting harmful myths and misconceptions, encouraging early health-seeking behaviour, and strengthening support systems for affected women and girls.
Speaking on behalf of Jamaa Mission Hospital, Rachel Muthoni reaffirmed the facility’s commitment to expanding maternal healthcare services and supporting fistula survivors.
The commemoration ended with a renewed commitment from stakeholders to ensure that no woman suffers in silence from a preventable childbirth injury.
Together, partners called for stronger investment in maternal healthcare systems to end obstetric fistula and guarantee safe childbirth for all women and girls in Kenya.
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