WEST POKOT, 13th February, 2026: The Beyond Zero Initiative yesterday joined other partners in paying a courtesy visit to H.E. Governor Simon Kachapin at his office in West Pokot County as the ongoing Free Fistula Camp concludes today. The visit reaffirmed the strong and strategic collaboration between the County Government of West Pokot and Beyond Zero in advancing maternal health outcomes and restoring dignity to women affected by obstetric fistula. With over 70 successful surgeries performed at Kapenguria County Referral Hospital, the camp marks another milestone in expanding access to life-changing treatment for vulnerable women in the region.
Speaking during the engagement, Ms. Vivian Ngugi, Technical Advisor at Beyond Zero, underscored that obstetric fistula remains central to the organization’s programming. “Fistula is something that is a priority for Beyond Zero in terms of the way we do our programming,” she stated, emphasizing that the initiative approaches the issue “through lenses of dignity, equity, and women’s rights.” She noted that since 2018, Beyond Zero has made a deliberate and sustained contribution toward the elimination of obstetric fistula in Kenya—recognizing it not merely as a clinical condition, but as a profound social justice issue requiring comprehensive, long-term solutions that extend beyond surgical repair to prevention, reintegration, and health systems strengthening.
Under the collaborative model with West Pokot County, Beyond Zero’s contribution has focused on the provision of essential medical supplies and the training and sensitization of healthcare workers participating in fistula camps. These interventions not only accelerate access to treatment but also strengthen county-level capacity, improve service delivery standards, and support better planning for budget inclusion and sustainability. This approach reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that fistula response efforts are embedded within broader health system reforms.
Beyond fistula care, Beyond Zero has expanded its footprint in West Pokot through complementary interventions aimed at empowering women and girls at the community level. In Kacheliba Sub-County, the Menstrual Health Management Program has so far reached 23 schools, providing dignity kits and advancing health education advocacy aligned with the national Menstrual Health Policy. By improving access to safe menstrual hygiene products and knowledge, the program reduces vulnerability, promotes school retention, and enables girls to pursue their education with confidence and dignity.
Additionally, through the Enrolled Nursing Program implemented in partnership with the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) since 2016, Beyond Zero supports the training of nurses drawn from local communities who return to serve in county health facilities. “It is really looking at training nurses and allowing them to go back to the community from which they come so that they can serve,” Ms. Ngugi explained. This model directly contributes to strengthening the local health workforce, ensuring that expanded infrastructure is matched with skilled human resources and sustainable service delivery.
As the Free Fistula Camp comes to a close, the courtesy visit signaled not only reflection on progress made but renewed commitment to deepen collaboration, close critical health gaps, and advance integrated solutions for women and girls in West Pokot. Beyond Zero’s broader legacy includes championing the development of the National Strategic Framework on Female Genital Fistula: Towards a Free Fistula Nation and supporting the rollout of standardized national training tools for healthcare workers and Community Health Volunteers, efforts that continue to shape Kenya’s policy and programmatic landscape.
Partners present included The Flying Doctors Society of Africa, M-PESA Foundation, and Amref Health Africa, whose collective support reinforces the power of partnership in delivering sustainable, dignified, and equitable healthcare solutions.
