‘Save a woman Fistula Foundation’ (herein known as ‘the Foundation’) is an organisation run by women for women suffering from Fistula in Kenya. Although we primarily focus on obstetric fistula often resulting from childbirth, we also support women with Fistula resulting from rape, cancer, early marriages and female genital mutilation. We provide the much-needed awareness and timely responses with a view to safeguarding the dignity and wellbeing of the survivors and also making Fistula a normal condition that women need not be suffering from.

For women severely suffer psychologically, emotionally, socially and economically as most victims with the condition leak urine and faeces (recto-vaginal & vesicovaginal fistula); face stigma, discrimination, deprivation and distress; loss their self-esteem; get isolated from their husbands, family members, the community. This is due to the foul smell and the fact that Fistula is associated with witchcraft. Moreover, they stop cooking, taking care of their families and even intimacy with their spouses.

Related to this, survivors remain financially exposed because they are unable to carry out their daily duties to make ends meet. The devastating reality is that most women descend to depression, get suicidal and some extreme cases result in death since they have no one to talk to or share their experience.  This is partly because, matters sexuality is considered a taboo in many cultures-thus it is not easily talked about. 

This precarious situation has been exacerbated by the upsurge of the novel COVID 2019. According to Dr. Weston Khisa, a Fistula Surgeon, COVID 19 has increased the number of women with fistula in Kenya. This is because fistula camps have been stopped hence no surgeries taking place. With this regard, victims with this dehumanizing condition are inappropriately anguishing in silence with very limited support.

It is on this basis the Foundation has been established to advance diverse, requisite interventions.  Our mission is to provide rapid responses to the distresses and injustices that impact the victims of fistula and their livelihood. Long term, we hope protect the rights of the impacted survivors, create awareness and burst myths and stigma around the condition.