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One of the World’s Finest Fistula Surgeons

“Mamitu is so valuable. She’s one of the world’s top fistula surgeons. Just think: almost every fistula surgeon in the world today has been trained by Mamitu Gashe, or by someone who’s been trained by Mamitu.” – Dr Yeshineh, Medical Director, Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia.

From humble beginnings, and with the support of thousands of our donors, Dr Catherine Hamlin built a network of six hospitals across Ethiopia, a rehabilitation centre, the Hamlin College of Midwives and over 50 Hamlin-supported rural midwifery clinics. Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia today employs more than 550 Ethiopian professionals, many of whom were trained by Catherine.

During Catherine’s time in Ethiopia, over 60,000 women had their fistula injuries repaired – more than any other facility in the world. One of those patients was a young girl afflicted by terrible childbirth injuries, Mamitu Gashe, who went on, as a woman to become one of the world’s finest fistula surgeons. Mamitu was by Catherine’s side for almost 50 years and it is with enormous pride that we’re excited to announce that the story of Mamitu and Catherine’s friendship will be published next month. Healing Lives is the story of the deep love between these two extraordinary women who spent decades together, treating women with obstetric fistula injuries and training thousands of fistula surgeons from all over the world.

Mamitu has been recognised by the Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. In Britain, she was a co-recipient of the esteemed Honorary Gold Medal of the Royal College of Surgeons, and in 2018 the BBC included Mamitu in its list of 100 of the most inspiring and influential women around the world. Mamitu still lives on the grounds of Hamlin’s Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital and is determined to see obstetric fistula eradicated and every last woman suffering a fistula found and treated.

Thanks to Catherine, Mamitu and the exceptional Ethiopian medical professionals at Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia, great progress has been made. But there is still more work to be done. We need your continued support to do this. Warmest thanks for being part of the Hamlin community.

Carolyn Hardy
Chief Executive Officer
Catherine Hamlin Fistula Foundation

P.S. Proceeds from Hamlin Shop sales of Healing Lives will support Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia.

Get the latest information from Ethiopia in the latest Hamlin Newsletter. Click here to read the September Newsletter.

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