Living with Fistula
After 30years of living in pain, abject poverty and rejection, Shindano Kangote finally got her touch of the cloak. What seemed like an endless turmoil finally found a merciful heart to deal with.
What we term as a common condition among women, is considered a taboo in her community which automatically subjected her to the title of an outcast.
On this day however, she saw the light at the end of the tunnel as Felista Sauti Kihindi came to her rescue. For the first time, someone saw her as less of a pathetic sick woman and touched her with help that she doesn’t know how or when she’ll pay back.
Shindano had suffered from Fistula since she conceived her firstborn child who unfortunately died at birth leaving her childless. No one in her community, Bamba in Kilifi county, wanted to see or help her. Felista however, chose not to isolate herself from Shindano and decided to help her. With the help of Deputy governor Kilifi county, Hon. Flora Mbetsa Chibule, Felista took Shindano to Kilifi County Hospital for treatment.
Fortunately, The Kenya Red cross was carrying out a Fistula camp in the same hospital and Shindano was lucky to be among the beneficiaries of this great initiative. On 13th December 2022, she was able to undergo a successful surgery and what had seemed like a lifetime curse to her was now gone for good. She could now live a fistula free life.
Felista went ahead to request the county government of Kilifi to provide more education on this disease so as to encourage women living with it to speak out and get help. She also added that the county government should bring the camp closer to them due to transport challenges that have also been faced in their locality.
