17 WOMEN TREATED SINCE LAUNCHING OF KENYA HOTLINE
August 2009
PRESS RELEASE
(Issued on behalf of Ann Gloag OBE)
Ann Gloag has just returned from Kenya where the Freedom From Fistula Foundation launched its HOTLINE service on 23 July 2009.
In the first two weeks of operating the HOTLINE, 17 women have been referred to Jamaa Hospital and 10 of those women have already received their operations.
The idea behind the HOTLINE is to provide a 24/7 access number that women can call if they suspect they have a fistula. The caller will be asked a few questions and will then be given a date to come to our partner hospital for screening. If a fistula is discovered, they will get another date to return for their operation. We are using our existing resources to manage the project and we can also arrange transport to get women to the hospital if required.
We have secured two telephone numbers from the main providers in Kenya – Zain (0737 100800) and Safaricom (0718 100 000) – and are widely advertising these numbers including on four branded minibuses which are being used in and around Nairobi. Any woman can access the system by calling or texting at any time.
By this simple system we hope that we can reach all the women in Kenya suffering from fistula and give them hope for change. We want to give access across the WHOLE country and into remote areas.
The HOTLINE launch event was attended by Madam Ida Odinga and Miss Kenya along with representatives of women’s groups, churches, businesses and Nairobi’s slums.
Ann Gloag did a number of TV, radio and press interviews around the launch to ensure wide publicity.
Ann said, “I did a television interview on the morning of the launch and I was so excited to be talking about the event that when the interviewer asked me when the launch was happening I blurted out ‘Today at 12noon at Kenya Children’s Home on Langata Road’.
“By the time I arrived back at KCH my team approached me in a total panic - already two women with fistula had shown up at the gates! They were followed by some unexpected guests who had also seen the TV interview but I wanted them all to be involved so we invited them to stay and arranged for the ladies with fistula to see the doctor at the hospital. It was all a bit crazy but its shows the power of publicity – it really does get the word out!”
In addition to women calling the HOTLINE directly, there have been lots of other enquiries including a gentleman in Western Kenya who has gathered 15 women with fistula through a Muslim group. The women's groups have held several meetings and leaflets have been distributed to over 300 people attending a midwife’s conference.
Ann added, “Everyone is extremely happy with the progress that has been made and we hope to keep the momentum going and really make a dent in the fistula problem in Kenya.”
