From Silence to Strength: Grace’s Journey of Healing at WADADIA

For nearly a decade, Grace Mwale, a 49-year-old mother of eight and grandmother, lived with a secret she could not speak about. After giving birth to her last child at home, she developed a condition that left her leaking urine and stool uncontrollably, an injury known as an obstetric fistula.

“I thought I had been bewitched,” Grace says. “I tried everything herbs, prayers, and hospital visits but no one could explain what was wrong. Eventually, I isolated myself because of the shame.”

Grace’s story changed in 2025, when she heard a radio announcement about a free surgical fistula camp at WADADIA’s Habibat Mother and Child Health Centre. The symptoms described matched her own. With courage and hope, she traveled from her village in Kitise, Makueni County, to seek help.

At the camp, WADADIA’s team of medical professionals screened her and confirmed she had fistula. She underwent successful reconstructive surgery, followed by counseling and post-operative care.

“After surgery, I cried not from pain, but from relief,” she says. “For the first time in nine years, I felt whole again.”

Today, Grace has become a WADADIA Fistula Champion, raising awareness in her community and helping other women understand that fistula is treatable. She leads community dialogues, supports prevention education, and shares her testimony publicly turning her pain into purpose.

“My dream is that no woman will hide because of fistula. Healing is possible and I am living proof.” — Grace Mwale

Through its Habibat Mother and Child Health Centre and community networks, WADADIA provides free surgeries, rehabilitation, and reintegration programs that help survivors heal physically and rebuild their confidence and livelihoods.

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