Migori County has marked a major milestone in advancing maternal and child health services with the launch of the Integrated Fistula Treatment Programme at Migori County Referral Hospital. The initiative, officially unveiled by Governor Dr. Ochillo Ayacko, aims to restore dignity to women living with obstetric fistula while strengthening healthcare systems across the county.
Governor Ayacko described the program as “a landmark step in our journey to improve maternal and child health and ensure that no woman in Migori suffers needlessly from a preventable condition.”
He highlighted several health sector achievements under his administration, noting that the Rongo Sub-County Hospital Theatre has been operationalized to decentralize emergency obstetric services and reduce delays in life-saving interventions. “We are taking healthcare closer to our people,” he said. “By operationalizing theatres and upgrading hospitals, we are ensuring that every expectant mother, wherever she is in Migori, can access safe delivery services.”
The Governor also cited other key developments, including the completion of the Awendo Maternal and Child Health Complex, which offers integrated antenatal, postnatal, and pediatric services, and the ongoing construction of Kegonga Level 4 Hospital, which will provide advanced diagnostic, surgical, and inpatient services upon completion.
He further mentioned the fully equipped Kehancha Theatre, the planned groundbreaking for Macalder Hospital Theatre, and the Kehancha Mother-Child Health Complex funded by the M-Pesa Foundation. “We are decentralizing specialized healthcare and ensuring mothers and children have access to modern, safe, and reliable facilities,” he added.
Dr. Ayacko emphasized his administration’s investment in human capital, noting, “We have trained over 3,388 Community Health Promoters to strengthen household-level health surveillance and promote preventive healthcare.” He also lauded the rollout of electronic medical records and the Taifa Care system in 84 facilities, terming digitization “a key step toward improving efficiency, transparency, and patient experience in our hospitals.”
The Governor further reassured residents of continued staffing and supply improvements: “We have promoted and recruited new health workers and ensured consistent stocking of essential drugs and commodities. Our people deserve nothing less than quality and reliable healthcare.”
Representing the Flying Doctors Society of Africa, Programme Coordinator Faith Wangwe Muteru applauded the county’s leadership for prioritizing women’s health. She noted that the ongoing fistula camp, running from September 26 to October 10, targets 100 women, with 39 already treated.
“Fistula is not just a medical condition it is a deeply social and psychological wound,” Wangwe said. “Many women suffer in silence due to stigma and isolation. Through this program, we are not only treating them but also helping them heal emotionally and reintegrate into their communities.”
She added that routine fistula repairs are now available free of charge at Migori County Referral Hospital, removing the need for periodic camps. Wangwe also highlighted the urgent need to train more specialists: “Kenya currently has only 15 trained fistula surgeons. We must build local capacity to ensure that no woman is left untreated.”
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s spouse, Ida Odinga, commended Migori County and its partners for implementing what she termed a “life-restoring program.”
“As a daughter of Migori, I am proud to witness such transformative progress in my home county,” she said. “Fistula robs women of dignity, hope, and their place in society. Yet, it is entirely preventable and treatable.”
Citing the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, she noted that 1 percent of reproductive-age women in Kenya report symptoms of fistula, translating to about 120,000 women nationwide with 3,000 new cases annually.
“This is a call to action,” Mrs. Odinga urged. “We must use community platforms; churches, women’s groups, and local gatherings to spread awareness and encourage early treatment. No woman should suffer in silence.”
She praised the collaboration between the Migori County Government, the Ministry of Health, and development partners such as Safaricom Foundation and AMREF Health Africa, describing it as “a model of how partnership and compassion can change lives.”
In her closing remarks, she reminded leaders of the moral duty to uplift those in need: “Leadership is not about power; it is about service. It is about encouraging, correcting, and supporting one another with compassion and equity.”
The launch of the Integrated Fistula Treatment Programme signals a new era in Migori’s maternal health agenda, one that combines medical care, psychological support, and community education to restore dignity and hope to women across the county.
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