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 Fistula Foundation Treatment Network in Kenya has achieved tremendous results:
- 13,523 surgeries provided across 15 partners
- 11 surgeons and 57 nurses trained in fistula management
- 7,746 health service providers sensitized
- 986 community health volunteers trained
- More than 225,010 community outreach activities conducted
- 59 support groups formed serving 1,455 fistula survivors in reintegration and economic empowerment programs
- More than 4.7 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.
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 Health and Education for Development (WOHED)
- Location: Nairobi
- Partner Since: 2019
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
Below are funding totals since the start of each partnership.
Current Partners
- Bomu Hospital: $1,035,507.42
- Cherangany Nursing Home: $3,062,237.65
- Daraja Mbili Vision Volunteers Youth Group (DM): $770,301.46
- Garissa County Referral Hospital: $121,303.2
- Gynocare Women’s and Fistula Hospital: $4,499,492.63
- Jamaa Home & Mission Hospital – Edelvale Trust: $721,348.60
- Kapenguria County Referral Hospital: $59,707.29
- Kisii Gynocare Fistula Centre:$2,462,137.76
- Maisha Empowerment Initiative: $430,381.86
- Narok County Referral Hospital: $200,276.00
- 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): $2,289,253.94
- Women Health and Education for Development (WOHED): $244,931.78
Past Partners
- Beyond Fistula: $9,860.00
- Direct Relief: $584,402.00
- Hands Around the World: $4,441.00
- Isiolo Development Project: $10,000.00
- Kisumu East District Hospital: $42,735.63
- Medical Aid Films: $21,394.00
- One By One (now Worldwide Fistula Fund): $140,500.00
- Wamba Catholic Hospital: $30,000.00
- Women and Health Alliance International (WAHA International): $85,750.00