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Reggae MC Mary Njambi Koikai, known to fans as Fyah Mummah, passed away on Monday night at the Nairobi Hospital. Koikai had been battling Endometriosis, a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows on other organs, for over 17 years.
Prior to her passing, Koikai was admitted to the hospital’s ICU unit and appealed to the public for blood type O positive donations. News of her passing sparked an outpouring of grief from fans who remembered her vibrant personality and infectious love for reggae music.
Koikai had also used her platform to raise awareness about Endometriosis. In a message to President Ruto during his US visit in May, she pleaded for increased investment in healthcare to address the disease’s prevalence and lack of treatment options in Kenya.
Koikai detailed her own struggles with the disease, including misdiagnosis, late-stage complications, and the emotional toll of battling an illness shrouded in stigma. “In my case that lining grew on my lungs, causing my lungs to collapse every month and countless number of surgeries. It took me 17 years to get a diagnosis. The damage is caused due to late diagnosis and lack of treatment in our country,” she stated.
She urged the President to consider visiting the Center for Endometriosis Care in Atlanta, a facility specializing in treating the complex condition.
Koikai pleaded with the president for the need for more research funding, skilled medical professionals trained in endometriosis excision surgery, and support systems for women battling the disease. She emphasized that endometriosis is not just a physical ailment, but also a financial and emotional burden, urging for a more open and supportive environment for women suffering in silence.
“I write out of desperation for the hundreds of young girls in need of specialised treatment and surgery to alleviate the years of pain, loss of blood, loss of body function, and loss of our careers, dreams and goals.”
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