From Despair to Hope: The Miraculous Recovery of a Fistula Survivor in Kilifi County, Kenya

Obstetric fistula is still a major public health problem in Kenya and much of sub-Saharan Africa. It mostly affects women in poor, rural areas who have little access to good maternal care. In Kenya, there are an estimated 3,000 to 3,500 new cases each year, but only a few women get the treatment they need because of stigma, lack of awareness, and not enough surgical services (Ministry of Health, Kenya, 2022). Across Africa, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says more than 2 million women live with untreated obstetric fistula, and there are 50,000 to 100,000 new cases every year, mostly caused by long, difficult labour and not enough emergency care (WHO, 2023). This condition leads to ongoing incontinence, infections, and social isolation. Even though it can be prevented and treated, fistula is still common where there is gender inequality, poverty, and underfunded health systems.

In Kilifi County, Kenya, we met Judith Maangi Mweri, a 35-year-old woman whose story shows the quiet struggles many women face in silence. Judith shared her experience to help start a conversation about this condition, which is often ignored.

Judith was overjoyed after giving birth to her second child at Gogoni Hospital. Her baby boy weighed a healthy 4.5 kilograms, and she looked forward to bringing him home. But two weeks after leaving the hospital, things changed. Judith started having sharp stomach pain and noticed something coming out of her body. “It was terrifying,” she said.

Judith told her husband, who acted quickly. They went to Malindi General Hospital, but after tests and scans, the X-rays showed no major problems. Judith was sent to a private clinic for further help, but the specialist was unavailable when she visited. This left her feeling frustrated and still in pain. “The more I sought help, the more frustrated I became,” Judith recalls. She decided to keep going with her daily life, even becoming pregnant again.

Judith’s health got worse. The pain became so bad that she almost died when giving birth to her third child. Wanting answers, she went back to Malindi General Hospital, but again, she was only given painkillers and sent home. “I lost all hope,” she said. For another year, Judith lived with her condition alone, unable to get the help she needed.

One day, Judith got a message on her phone that changed her life. It was from Amref Health Africa and the M-Pesa Foundation, telling her about a fistula camp coming to Kilifi County. Judith could hardly believe it. “Could this be the help I’ve been longing for?” she wondered, reading the message again and again, feeling hopeful. She quickly called the number in the message.

Judith told her story to the Amref team and was invited to the fistula camp at Kilifi County Referral Hospital. She felt both scared and hopeful as she made the trip. When she arrived, she had several tests and was scheduled for surgery. “As soon as I came under the doctors’ care, I felt hope bloom inside me like a flower awakening in spring,” she said.

After three days of recovery, Judith went home. She followed the doctors’ advice and avoided heavy work. For the first time in years, she felt relief. “My condition was improving, and I was regaining control of my life,” she said. Along with medical care, Judith also got psychosocial support, which helped her deal with the trauma, take care of herself again, and return to her community with dignity.

However, Judith’s recovery faced another setback. While attending a social event, the plastic chair she sat on broke. Judith’s recovery was interrupted. At a social event, the plastic chair she sat on broke, causing her to fall and hurt her surgical site. The fistula came back. “I felt as though all my hope was slipping away again,” she recalled. Confused and in pain, Judith stayed home and struggled with despair for three months. “Why is this happening to me?” she wondered.ng on her recovery progress, and upon hearing about her setback, they responded with compassion. Judith was invited to Gogoni Health Centre for a follow-up check-up. After a thorough examination, she was referred to Wadadia Hospital in Kilifi for another surgery. Two days later, she was booked for her second operation.

Today, Judith feels proud and dignified. She is full of joy and gratitude, and she said with tears, “Thank you so much to Amref Health Africa and the M-Pesa Foundation. You came into my life like a bright light in a dark tunnel, and I am eternally grateful.”

Now, Judith speaks up for women’s health. She teaches others about fistula, corrects misconceptions, and encourages women and girls to seek medical help and support. “Don’t wait too long, as I did. You deserve to live a life free from pain,” she says.

The integrated fistula programme, run by Amref Health Africa and the Flying Doctors Society of Africa, aims to end female genital fistula by 2030. In Kilifi County, the programme has made real progress, including:

• Training 1,125 community health promoters (CHPs) and nurses on fistula awareness and management.
• Hosting 13 camps, reaching over 4,000 women.
• Facilitating surgery for 1,230 women.

To reach as many people as possible, the programme uses various communication channels, including CHPs, Fistula Champions, local radio and TV, and SMS alerts.

Psychosocial support is a key part of the programme, helping women with their emotional, social, and mental health. This complete approach has greatly improved recovery, allowing women to return to their communities with pride and independence. In Kilifi, Bungoma, and Kiambu counties, the programme has helped women rebuild their lives and regain confidence, offering both medical care and a path to empowerment.

Author: Noah Wekesa, Digital Communications and Engagement Officer, Amref Health Africa