Kenya

Fistula Foundation's pioneering, countrywide treatment network in Kenya is connecting more women than ever before with life-transforming surgery.

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Why We Work in Kenya

Despite significant development progress in recent decades, maternal health indicators in Kenya remain at disappointing levels. This is particularly true in the many rural parts of Kenya, where the majority of women deliver at home without a skilled birth attendant and far from any emergency obstetric care facilities. This has led to a high rate of obstetric fistula in rural Kenya. 

Before 2014, only about 1,000 fistula surgeries were performed each year in Kenya. An estimated 3,000 new cases occur annually—which meant that an enormous number of Kenyan women were going untreated. 

What You Help Us Do

We’ve been working with trusted partners in Kenya since 2010 to identify and treat women with fistula.

In 2014, Fistula Foundation launched a collaborative network of hospitals to provide year-round fistula care to women in Kenya. We believe this network-of-care model represents the path forward to ending—within a generation—the suffering caused by fistula. Learn more about our plan to end it

Since its launch, our Kenya program has achieved tremendous results: 

  • 14,250 fistula surgeries provided 
  • 11 surgeons and 19 nurses trained in fistula management
  • 4,853 health service providers sensitized
  • 378 community health volunteers trained  
  • Over 23,300 community outreach activities  conducted
  • 25 support groups formed serving 522 fistula survivors in reintegration and economic empowerment programs
  • Over 2.2 million community members reached through direct outreach activities, radio programs and advertisements

Meet Our Partners

We identify local surgical teams in Kenya already successfully treating women with fistula—and then work to amplify their efforts.

Who are our current partners?

Bomu Hospital

  • Location: Mombasa 
  • Partner Since: 2015

Cherangany Nursing Home

  • Location: Kitale
  • Partner Since: 2014

Daraja Mbili Vision Volunteers Youth Group (DM)

  • Location: Kisii
  • Partner Since: 2014

Garissa County Referral Hospital

  • Location: Garissa
  • Partner Since: 2021

Gynocare Women’s and Fistula Hospital

  • Location: Eldoret
  • Partner Since: 2014

Jamaa Home & Mission Hospital – Edelvale Trust

  • Location: Nairobi
  • Partner Since: 2014

Kapenguria County Referral Hospital

  • Location: Kapenguria
  • Partner Since: 2022

Kisii Gynocare Fistula Centre

  • Location: Kisii 
  • Partner Since: 2016

Maisha Empowerment Initiative (Formerly Disciples of Mercy)

  • Location: Kisumu
  • Partner Since: 2014

Narok County Referral Hospital

  • Location: Narok
  • Partner Since: 2019

Nyambene Sub-County Hospital

  • Location: Meru
  • Partner Since: 2023

Vihiga County Referral Hospital

  • Location: Mbale
  • Partner Since: 2021

WASO HOPE CBO

  • Location: Isiolo County
  • Partner Since: 2024

Women and Development Against Distress in Africa (WADADIA)

  • Location: Mumias
  • Partner Since: 2014

Women Education and Health for Development (WOHED)

  • Location: Nairobi
  • Partner Since: 2019
Who are our past partners?

Beyond Fistula

  • Location: Eldoret
  • Partner In: 2016

Direct Relief

  • Location: Kisumu
  • Partner In: 2010 – 2015

Hands Around the World

  • Location: Maua
  • Partner In: 2013

Isiolo Development Project

  • Location: Isiolo
  • Partner In: 2015

Kisumu East District Hospital

  • Location: Kisumu
  • Partner In: 2015 – 2019

Medical Aid Films

  • Partner In: 2014

One By One (now Worldwide Fistula Fund)

  • Location: Western Kenya
  • Partner In: 2011

Wamba Catholic Hospital

  • Location: Wamba
  • Partner In: 2015

Women and Health Alliance International (WAHA International)

  • Partner In: 2011
How much funding have we granted?

Below are funding totals since the start of each partnership.

Current Partners

  • Bomu Hospital: $1,035,507.42
  • Cherangany Nursing Home: $3,102,286.94
  • Daraja Mbili Vision Volunteers Youth Group (DM): $689,624.32
  • Garissa County Referral Hospital: $121,303.2
  • Gynocare Women’s and Fistula Hospital: $4,522,809.35
  • Jamaa Home & Mission Hospital – Edelvale Trust: $727,867.46
  • Kapenguria County Referral Hospital: $59,707.29
  • Kisii Gynocare Fistula Centre:$2,462,137.76
  • Maisha Empowerment Initiative: $340,663.38
  • Narok County Referral Hospital: $202,650.52
  • Nyambene Sub-County Hospital: $23,631.05
  • Vihiga County Referral Hospital: $67,689.23
  • WASO HOPE CBO: $26,103.57
  • Women and Development Against Distress in Africa (WADADIA): $2,000,571.68
  • Women Education and Health for Development (WOHED): $205,286.07

Past Partners

  • Beyond Fistula: $9,860
  • Direct Relief: $584,402
  • Hands Around the World: $4,441
  • Isiolo Development Project: $10,000
  • Kisumu East District Hospital: $42,736
  • Medical Aid Films: $21,394
  • One By One (now Worldwide Fistula Fund): $140,500
  • Wamba Catholic Hospital: $30,000
  • Women and Health Alliance International (WAHA International): $85,750

News from the Field

Kapenguria County Referral Hospital Joins the Fistula Foundation Treatment Network in Kenya  •  April 11, 2022
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On March 16, Fistula Foundation added a new treatment facility to the Fistula Foundation Treatment Network in Kenya. Kapenguria County Referral Hospital (KCRH), in West Pokot County, joins eight other...
On March 16, Fistula Foundation added a new treatment facility to the Fistula Foundation Treatment Network in Kenya. Kapenguria County Referral Hospital (KCRH), in West Pokot County, joins eight other partner facilities in Kenya, and brings free fistula treatment to one of the highest density areas for fistula cases in the county.
Building a Network of Care in Kenya—and Beyond  •  March 17, 2022
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We surpassed a major milestone in 2021: Since 2009, we’ve provided more than 60,000 surgeries to women in need of care. This month, we finished tallying the number of surgeries...
We surpassed a major milestone in 2021: Since 2009, we’ve provided more than 60,000 surgeries to women in need of care. This month, we finished tallying the number of surgeries performed last year by our network of partners. The final count was record-breaking: In 2021, Fistula Foundation supported 9,477 surgeries in partnership with 65 organizations in 24 countries.

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