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Blog

Giving birth in safe hands

Kedida is one of the lucky ones. Pregnant with her first child, and recognising the signs of labour, she made her way by public transport to the Watar Hamlin-midwifery clinic. Gadissie, a newly graduated Hamlin Midwife, was there to welcome her. Having completed practical placements in several rural clinics while studying for her BSc Midwifery […]...

December 2nd, 2024 Read More
fistula surgeon

Dr Leta, fistula surgeon explains the importance of prevention

Eight years ago, Dr Leta was a student in Gondar University when Dr Catherine Hamlin visited to inaugurate a fistula centre. Her words made a lasting impact on him. “During her speech, Dr Catherine said that to cease the suffering of obstetric fistula patients, you must put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Even then, she […]...

November 25th, 2024 Read More

Give back this festive season

As we approach the holiday season, we look forward to celebrating with our families and friends; sharing a festive meal together and reflecting on the blessings of the past year. But families elsewhere in the world do not have as much to be thankful for. When a woman in Ethiopia does not receive the medical […]...

November 25th, 2024 Read More

Honour your loved one’s life

When you lose someone you love, you want their memory to last forever. Choosing to honour a loved one with a gift in memory to Catherine Hamlin Fistula Foundation is a powerful way to celebrate their life and cherish special memories while creating a legacy that will impact future generations. A bereavement gift can also be […]...

November 18th, 2024 Read More

The symbolism of the iconic Hamlin blanket

Likelesh has called the hospital by the river her home for decades. Having suffered a devastating obstetric fistula injury when she was younger, she arrived at Hamlin’s Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital seeking treatment. But the love and support she found there completely changed the trajectory of her life. Born and raised in a rural village […]...

November 18th, 2024 Read More

Your questions answered: how do we find women living with obstetric fistula?

In the third of our Clinical Conversations series, Tolera Adamu, Patient Identification Officer, explains how he finds women living with childbirth injuries in Ethiopia’s remote and rural communities. What is the most difficult part of your role? The challenging part is finding suspected obstetric fistula patients because there are many barriers: cultural and geographic. On […]...

November 18th, 2024 Read More
Hanan is a Hamlin Midwife

Hanan is proud to be a Hamlin Midwife

Hanan is proud to call herself a Hamlin Midwife. She recently graduated from the Hamlin College of Midwives with a BSc degree in Midwifery and has returned to her home state of Benishangul-Gumuz in northwestern Ethiopia. She is looking forward to serving the women in her community. We caught up with Hanan after her graduation ceremony […]...

November 4th, 2024 Read More

Your questions anwered: the emotional toll of obstetric fistula

In the second of our Clinical Conversations series, Dr Melaku Abriha, Medical Director at Hamlin’s Mekele Fistula Hospital, explains the psychological impact of obstetric fistula. How does obstetric fistula impact women emotionally? Around 41% of our patients suffer psychologically because of their obstetric fistula injury. This ranges from minor anxiety, to post traumatic stress disorder, major […]...

November 3rd, 2024 Read More
Yeshineh clinical conversations

Your questions answered: what is obstetric fistula?

In the first of our Clinical Conversations series, Dr Yeshineh Demerew, Medical Director and Surgeon of Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia, answers the most common questions about obstetric fistula. What is obstetric fistula? A fistula is an abnormal communication between two or more organs in our body that don’t normally connect, and usually takes the form of […]...

October 28th, 2024 Read More

Bizuyie finds the courage to rebuild her life after obstetric fistula

Bizuyie is still unable to talk about the time she sustained a severe obstetric fistula injury 25 years’ ago. But we know her bladder was destroyed and the nerves in her legs were damaged, leaving her with difficulty walking and the need for a cane. Living in a remote village where no one knew what […]...

October 22nd, 2024 Read More

Five books that will take you on a journey to Ethiopia

Author Jhumpa Lahiri famously said: “That’s the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet.” This is fortunate for the many of us who lack either the time or funds to visit Ethiopia, but are intrigued by its people, history, culture, and landscape. For those wanting to learn more about Dr Catherine […]...

October 14th, 2024 Read More