Medics urge men to support wives living with Fistula to end stigma
By Oliver Musembi, February 23, 2026Medics are appealing to men to support their wives diagnosed with fistula, noting how it is a highly stigmatised condition that has led to break-ups in marriages.
This comes as statistics show that fistula affects at least 3,000 women in Kenya with less than 5 percent getting treatment as many are not aware it is treatable.
According to the Statistics thousands of victims do not go for treatment or come out to seek help, as they think the condition, which usually starts during childbirth, is normal.
Medics explain that the condition often occurs as a result of prolonged obstructed labour.
Worth noting is that a fistula condition involves the involuntary passing of urine and stool through the birth canal following a rupture of the thin skin between the rectum and female genitals.
Speaking during a breakfast briefing in Kiambu County on Monday, February 23, 2026, Betty Kasyoka, a specialist in female fistula and long-serving senior nurse in Kiambu County, explains that an unrecorded number of women have been divorced by their husbands, both of whom do not understand the medical condition.
“Many women have resigned to their fate, assuming the condition is normal and therefore do not seek treatment. The media and other players must publicize this so as to help our suffering mothers, sisters and daughters,” she says.
Cost of treating Fistula
Worse still, Kasyoka explains that even the women and their men do not understand the demeaning condition and many do not seek medical help.
She further pointed out that the condition is associated with poor nutrition for young girls, sexual abuse, teenage pregnancy and untreated cancer of the cervix.
“Fistula is shrouded in secrecy and many with the condition do not speak out due to the stigma it has acquired. We also have cases of women who have been ostracized by their families as a result,” Kasyoka stated.
The cost of treatment, she noted, ranges from Ksh90,000 to Ksh400,000 depending on whether in public or private hospitals, but is fully covered under the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Unfortunately, she adds, the country lacks enough trainers and surgeons to deal with fistula cases, which continue to increase as a result of a lack of information and the stigma.
“There are only about 16 fistula surgeons in Kenya while the current trainers are only four out of 25 initially trained for the task. The deficit is huge and there is urgent need to fill the gap,” stated Kasyoka.
Dr Teresiah Kariuki, the Kiambu County Director of Public Health reiterated that the regional government is s taking measures to create awareness using community health promoters CHPs in a bid to overcome the stigma associated with fistula.
She says the campaign and training programs that will involve men will be carried out in all the sub counties with a view to destigmatizing the condition..
“In this initiative we have trained our CHPs in creating awareness in the community and emphasizing the need for more women to go for screening,” asserted Dr Kariuki.
An official from the Flying Doctors Society Dr Angela Mecha, said the organization jointly with Amref, is conducting medical camps across the country to offer free treatment of fistula.