Ethiopia 
United States 
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Netherlands “Because of the fistula, people commented on the very bad smell. I didn’t visit my neighbours and I never went to church or the market. I cried all day and night.” – Abebech
Abebech’s future looked bleak. During childbirth, she lost her baby and sustained a devastating obstetric fistula injury, leaving her incontinent.
Her husband married someone else and had two children while Abebech was left to suffer alone.
Unable to take part in community gatherings, Abebech felt sad and isolated. With no education or skills, she could not work to support herself.
Following fistula repair surgery and loving care at Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia, Abebech completed training programs in literacy and numeracy, sewing, embroidery, cooking and poultry.
Thanks to someone like YOU, Abebech reclaimed her health and dignity through Catherine’s holistic Hamlin Model of Care.
Will you continue Catherine’s humanitarianism and help another woman reclaim her future?
Catherine’s Hamlin Model of Care helped Abebech reclaim her future
Dr Catherine Hamlin was a visionary humanitarian who understood that treating a woman with obstetric fistula goes far beyond surgical repair.
That’s why she pioneered the patient-centered, holistic Hamlin Model of Care.
Based on Catherine’s core values of love and compassion, the Hamlin Model of Care is at the heart of Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia’s work for women.
This world-leading approach to treating obstetric fistula encompasses comprehensive rehabilitation which includes emotional and psychological healing and providing women with vocational training and skills so they can thrive when they return to their community.
“We don’t just treat a hole in the bladder, we treat the whole patient with love and tender care, literacy and numeracy classes, a brand new dress and money to travel home.” – Dr Catherine Hamlin
Over 70,000 women have reclaimed their health and dignity through the Hamlin Model of Care, thanks to generous donors like you.
“I am cured. Now, I am taking training based on my own choices. I never went to school so I couldn’t read or write. Here, I am learning sewing, embroidery, cooking and poultry training—skills I had never practiced in my village.
I have a big plan to prepare and sell food. I also want to do embroidery and sewing to create and sell bags.” – Abebech
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