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| The leak that turns you into an outcast |
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             At the prime age of 17-years, Fatima Abdallah had been married for two years and was happily expecting her first baby when the worst happened during delivery time. Unable to raise the Sh 2,000 fare to the city, Fatima resigned to her fate. Her husband said he could not handle it, and asked her to go and live with her mother. “He agreed to be spending me money for upkeep while I stayed with my mother,” says Fatima, now 20-years-old. Meanwhile, her husband married another woman. Her in-laws also supported this move arguing that it was going to be difficult for their son to have children with Fatima. For three years now, she has been living with her mother. Here she feels accepted and loved. “Atleast my mother understands what I am going through, giving me immense support.” Six months ago, her father brought her to Nairobi to stay with an uncle as they sought for treatment. It is while in Nairobi she heard about the free surgery offered by AMREF and Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). As this writer spoke to her after going through the surgery, Fatima was in an upbeat mood. She said she plans to have a baby in two years time, once she is sure of her healing. Although doctors say this is possible, they advise such patients to deliver through C-section. Apart from the surgery, Fatima thinks her stay at KNH has been of great benefit. “The many other women I met hear were a great source of encouragement.” During their stay in a ward specifically set aside for the vaginal fistula patients, the 60 women who benefited from the surgical treatment had an opportunity to share their tribulations and encourage each other. Those who have been divorced or isolated by family members poured their emotions to their colleagues. “Fellow patients shared strategies of how they have managed to live with the problem and how they plan to handle their lives in future,” says Fatima. “Such knowledge is going to help me move forward and have a positive outlook to life.” Other women who benefited from the surgery were eager to lead a normal life. Some of them said they had never attended get together parties or family gathering for the last 10 years. “I always cursed why I had sex at an early age. But I have been reborn again and just anxious to show the world who am now,” say 17-year-old girl, who requested not be named. Her life has been a nightmare after she experienced obstructed labour when delivering her baby at the age of 15 years. |
| Kenya Audio Visual Archives Conference |
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The African Woman and Child Feature Service, the Kenya Archival Study Group and the Ford Foundation office in Nairobi, Kenya will hold the Preservation, Conservation and Restoration of Audio Visual Media Conference. The conference will be held at the National Museums of Kenya in Nairobi, from December 3rd – 5th 2008. |
| AWC at the Highway Africa Awards |
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