The media has been identified as a key stakeholder in the campaign against fistula complications affecting women in the country.
A gynaecology consultant, Dr Weston Khisa, has underscored the importance of the media sensitising and educating the local community and the general public on the need to seek medical treatment to address the problem instead of leaving the affected women suffering in silence.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday at Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital, Dr Khisa said members of the public do not know that the problem is curable and it was the role of the media to sensitise the communities and inform them the problem can be reversed through corrective surgery.
"Our communities need media sensitisation on the existence of a remedy to the fistula complication affecting many women. It is out of media sensitisation through news packaging and dissemination that those with this problem will know where to seek medical treatment," said Dr Khisa.
The doctor however, identified social stigma as a serious challenge facing women suffering from fistula and challenged communities to encourage women to get free medical treatment to relieve them of social stigma and trauma caused by isolation from the general society.
The hospital has set up a Free medical Camp sponsored by Freedom from Fistula Foundation and Flying Doctors' Society of Africa in partnership with the hospital to screen and provide surgical operations to patients suffering from fistula.