Fistula survivor shares experience to raise awareness

Sarah Omega, a fistula survivor who endured the condition for 12 years, has dedicated herself to raising awareness, particularly by engaging with schools.

Speaking in Mt Elgon on the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula, Sarah shared that through partnerships with schools and other stakeholders, she has reached institutions across nine counties to educate communities about the condition.

As the founder of the Let’s End Fistula Initiative (LEFI), Sarah points out that the increasing rates of teenage pregnancies in these areas put young girls at higher risk of developing fistula.

This year’s awareness campaign carries the theme, "Her Health, Her Rights; Shaping a Future without Fistula."

Data from the 2022 Kenya Health Demographic Survey (KHDS) shows that Bungoma County records a high number of teenage pregnancies.

The report also indicates that 62 percent of women in the county have faced physical and sexual violence.

“When a girl becomes pregnant at a young age, her body is often not fully developed to safely deliver the baby, increasing the risk of fistula,” Sarah explains.

Through her programs, Sarah is focused on restoring dignity and hope to those affected by this condition.

She also revealed that she remained unmarried for 12 years after developing fistula.

Obstetric fistula is a medical condition where a hole forms in the birth canal due to prolonged obstructed labor, resulting in involuntary leakage of urine or feces.

Sarah experienced the condition after a stillbirth during her teenage years. She became pregnant at 19, but the baby was too large to pass through her narrow birth canal, leading to the injury.

“The baby was big, and the birth canal was too narrow, which caused the fistula,” she recalls.

The ordeal led her into depression, and she faced rejection from both family and friends.

“Before others rejected me, I had already rejected myself. I couldn’t participate in the activities I once enjoyed as a teenager. I felt trapped, and the condition pushed me into isolation,” Sarah shares.

She also endured intense postpartum pain.

“Nights were the hardest. The pain in my genital area was unbearable, and I often cried alone. During the day, I had to endure the pain silently, but nights were filled with tears,” she adds.

After struggling with fistula for 12 years, Sarah Omega developed depression and was eventually taken to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH).

It was there that she learned about available fistula treatments. While at MTRH, she underwent successful fistula repair surgery, which transformed her life.

Following her recovery, Sarah became a passionate fistula advocate and founded the Let’s End Fistula Initiative (LEFI), which actively works to address fistula issues across nine counties in Kenya.

The counties where Sarah has been active include Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega, Migori, Siaya, Trans-Nzoia, Uasin-Gishu, Vihiga, and West Pokot.

To tackle fistula in these areas, her organization has implemented programs focused on four key areas: identifying and linking patients to treatment, economic empowerment, social reintegration, and encouraging survivors to become advocates themselves.

Through her advocacy efforts, Sarah has helped over 2,000 women access treatment, with more than 200 women in the Mt Elgon area of Bungoma County having their lives restored.

“Mt Elgon is a fistula hotspot partly due to the 2007-2008 post-election violence, during which many women experienced rape, defilement, and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), leading to numerous fistula cases,” she explained.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), between 50,000 and 100,000 women globally suffer from obstetric fistula each year.

“We are emphasizing prevention through educating expectant mothers about the importance of attending antenatal clinics and delivering under skilled birth attendants,” Sarah noted.

Despite these efforts, Sarah is skeptical that the global target to end fistula by 2030 will be met, citing reports that show about 5 out of every 100 women are affected by the condition in some regions.

“In some countries, medical insurance covers fistula surgery. In Kenya, the Social Health Authority (SHA) should provide this support. If we reach that level nationally, it would be a significant step forward,” she said.

Janet Chebet, medical superintendent at Cheptais Sub-County Hospital, highlighted factors such as female genital mutilation (FGM), reliance on traditional birth attendants, and gender-based violence (GBV) as major contributors to fistula cases in the region.

“Many women who have undergone FGM end up suffering from fistula,” the medical officer stated.