As Dr Catherine Hamlin turns 95 years of age this month, we reflect on the path this pioneering Australian Doctor paved for women and girls all over the world. Dr Catherine and Reg Hamlin arrived in Ethiopia 60 years ago, in 1959, originally to establish a Midwifery School in the general Hospital in Addis Ababa. […]...
Doctors Catherine and Reg Hamlin became close friends to the family of Haile Selassie, Ethiopia’s last emperor. In 1974, the provisional military government of Socialist Ethiopia (the Dergue) overthrew the royal family. Ethiopia became a Marxist one-party state, with many political opponents executed or arrested without a trial. The emperor’s daughter, Princess Tenangnework, and her […]...
Deborah was one of the 2018 Hamlin Ethiopian Adventurers who committed to raising $10,000 for the work of Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia. After months of raising awareness and fundraising, she and the group of 14 travelled around Ethiopia for 19 days of adventure. It was a trip full of life changing experiences that are not easily […]...
Radio interview with BBC World Service On May 16, 2019 the BBC Radio interviewed Mamitu. Listen below to Mamitu telling her remarkable story in her own words. An inspirational woman Once a patient with obstetric fistula, Mamitu Gashe became an internationally renowned fistula surgeon and a much loved member of the team at Hamlin’s Addis […]...
A mother to all Known as ‘Emaye’ (Amharic for ‘Mother’) to all who visit the hospital, Catherine has changed lives through the love, care and world-class treatment she has established at Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia. “Everyone knows about Dr Hamlin; everybody loves Dr Hamlin; everybody is inspired by Dr Hamlin.” – Ephraim Aklilu, former staff at Desta […]...
The maternal mortality rate in Ethiopia has dropped by 70% in recent decades, according to the Ministry of Health Ethiopia (1). Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia has made a significant contribution to reducing maternal deaths by increasing access to quality maternal healthcare, especially in under-serviced rural areas. Maternal mortality reducing In 1990, the World Health Organisation […]...
Each year the Catherine Hamlin Fistula Foundation takes two groups of supporters to Ethiopia (Hamlin Ethiopian Adventure), a trip to see the life-changing work of Dr Catherine Hamlin and her team. To come on the trip each year, supporters sign up to raise funds and awareness for the work being done in Ethiopia, and spread […]...
Abinet, a recent graduate from the Hamlin Rehabilitation and Reintegration program, has just embarked on a new chapter of her life. After a nine-year journey of recovery at Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia, Abinet is now cured and has big plans for the future. Having recently completed the three-month Rehabilitation and Reintegration program, Abinet has returned home and is […]...
A day of celebration On July 14th 2018, 20 new midwives graduated as the eighth class from the Hamlin College of Midwives. Dr Catherine Hamlin joined the students, their families, staff and patients for a day of celebration. After four years of rigorous study, the new Hamlin midwives will go on to provide quality maternal healthcare […]...
Obstetric fistula – a heartbreaking reality For many women in developing countries, obstetric fistula is a heartbreaking reality, severe in both its physical and emotional effects. Obstetric fistula is a major public health issue, affecting more than 2 million women around the world. It is endemic among women living in poor rural contexts in many […]...
Life before fistula Neima doesn’t know how old she is. In her village, age isn’t a concern, survival is. When asked what their age is, Neima and her peers estimate. The second youngest in a family of five children, Neima’s childhood was spent looking after family animals and assisting her mother at home before she […]...
Transforming maternal health in rural Ethiopia Where a midwife is often the difference between life and death, the deployment of Hamlin midwives has transformed healthcare for rural mothers in Ethiopia. Nested among the hills of Eastern Ethiopia, the Hamlin Midwifery Clinic in the Jarso Health Centre is making a profound impact on the local community. […]...
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