By: Katie Weller, Marketing Communications Writer, Fistula Foundation “Sit down, let’s talk to her,” said Joyce, nodding. She gestured to the hospital bed with a smile and a psychologist’s certainty. We were now alone in a hospital room at Jamaa Mission Hospital—one of six facilities in the Action on Fistula program. From my comfortable desk…
Meet Betty
Betty developed fistula during her first pregnancy, after laboring at home for seven days. Her baby did not survive. Today, she is healthy once again thanks to free surgery provided through the Action on Fistula program.
Betty's Story
Betty is 23 years originally from Uganda, from a place named Chepkoine. She became pregnant in 2014 at the age of 22. After getting pregnant, she was forced to drop out of school.
She carried the pregnancy without any complications to full term. She went into labor, but her mother incorrectly assumed that Betty was experiencing false labour and made her endure labor pains for one full week. By the time they decided to seek medical help, everything had gone wrong. Reaching the health facility, they learned that Betty’s 5kg baby had died. She finally had to undergo a Cesarian section in order to remove the fetus. Following her surgery, she immediately noticed the leaking of urine.
She was referred to Cherengany Nursing Home from Kitale District Hospital, and here, she received free fistula surgery through the Action on Fistula program that will bring to an end to her life of isolation, and enable her to helpful to her mother, rather than being a burden.
About Kenya
- Population: 45,010,056
- Average Births per Woman: 3.54
- Female Literacy: 84.2%
- Population Living in Poverty: 43.4% (less than $1.25/day)
