Beyond Surgery: Supporting Women Through the Fistula Recovery Journey.

A successful fistula repair is not the end of the healing journey.

At Marafa Health Facility, WADADIA’s outreach and psychosocial support team engaged women at different stages of fistula care from those preparing for surgery to women already recovering after repair.

The sessions focused on practical and emotional preparation for recovery, including:

• One-on-one pre-operative sessions for women awaiting surgery.
• Post-operative sessions for women who had already undergone repair.
• Group sessions supporting women through recovery.
• Psychoeducation for caregivers and significant others while they waited to visit their loved ones.
• Conversations with family members about how they can provide meaningful support at home.

One husband shared how valuable the information and services have been to him. His reflection reinforced an important part of fistula care: when families understand the recovery journey, they are better prepared to support the woman through it.

At WADADIA, psychosocial support is part of our commitment to whole-person fistula care. Women need more than a successful procedure; they also need information, emotional support, understanding and a supportive environment as they recover.

This work is being delivered in partnership with Kilifi County Government/Ministry of Health, Flying Doctors’ Society of Africa (FDSA), Amref Health Africa in Kenya, M-PESA Foundation and Bahari FM, in support of the Free Fistula Camp in Kilifi County.

Do you know a woman who may be living with fistula?

📞 Call 0800 722 600 and help connect her to care.