VVF Story
For six years running, AMREF in partnership with Kenya’s largest referral hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has been running a free, two week, VVF camp.
This year’s camp was held from June 10 to 24, following media sensitisation campaigns in the month preceding the camp and a VVF walk held on June 10, 2011. As is the case with previous camps, patients came from far and wide, with representation from all the regions of the country. The AMREF team headed, by Dr Weston Khisa, carried out surgeries in partnership with the KNH doctors; about 100 women benefited from the exercise.
Vesico-vaginal fistula (VVF) has been a social and a surgical problem for centuries and remains a challenge in developing countries. Among others factors obstetric fistula is a function of teen-age pregnancies, prolonged labour and unskilled births; in 95% of the cases, the infant dies before delivery.
A case in point is that of 18 year old Abigael Kanini from Kaskeu village in Makueni. A school dropout, she got fistula following a difficult labour and delivery. She delivered a 3.8kg still born through a caesarean section, following a failed attempt to deliver at home. Immediately after delivery, Kanini realised that she was leaking urine and could not walk without support. She was later discharged and went home.
Hers was a trebled calamity; she lost her child, developed fistula and foot drop (nerve injuries) due to prolonged labour and a baby that was a little too big for her growing body.
“The pain I felt was unbearable and I used to cry day and night. I was later referred to Kenyatta National Hospital for further management because of the nerve problem that affected both my legs and was admitted for 2 weeks before discharge. While at Kenyatta, I was informed about the free VVF camp in June,” says Kanini.
Her family has been very supportive trying to get treatment for her and were quite worried as to whether she would ever be on her feet again. Her elder sister dropped out of college to take care of Kanini and they have been in and out of hospital for the last three months.
While at the hospital, she underwent physiotherapy and Dr Khisa facilitated the purchase of a pair of clutches to enable Kanini move around.
Unlike other patients, Kanini was retained at the hospital for two weeks following the surgery to allow her to heal and for the removal of her urinary catheter. She was then transported back home by the AMREF team. Her relatives and family were grateful to see their daughter healed (continent) and mobile again. Her aunt says, “We did not know that there is treatment for her condition, God has come through for Kanini. She could not sit as she was always in so much pain; no one thought she would be well again.”
The smile on Kanini’s mother’s face tells of her intense joy as she meets her daughter upon arrival at the family home. Lost for words, she only manages to say, “I have nothing much to say but to thank AMREF for helping my daughter.”
Kanini’s grandmother promises to slaughter a goat for her grandchild and is glad to see her smile again “Thank you AMREF for putting the smile back on Kanini’s face,” she says.
Kanini intends to go back to school when she is fully able to walk again.
There is need for the continued creation of awareness to sensitise people on causes of VVF and the availability of treatment. This will also bring down the high levels of stigma associated with fistula in our communities which is a barrier to prevention and treatment.
