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 […]...
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 […]...
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 […]...
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 […]...
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 […]...
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 […]...
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 […]...
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 […]...
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 […]...
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 […]...
Dinah suffered for five years with an obstetric fistula injury and was isolated in her community. Then she arrived at Hamlin's Yirgalem Fistula Hospital. ...
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 […]...
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