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 […]...
International Literacy Day is celebrated on 8th September every year and highlights the importance of literacy for all people, communities and societies. For women who live in poverty, like most of our fistula patients, the chance to reach their full potential is hampered by a lack of numeracy and literacy skills. That’s why Hamlin’s Women’s […]...
How did the fistula patients taking part in Hamlin's Women's Empowerment Program celebrate their graduation? Watch and find out....
Hamlin's Women's Empowerment Program has had it's 13th cohort of 51 start in January 2024. ...
The story of a meeting between two inspiring Australian women, Sam Bloom and Dr Catherine Hamlin....
Catherine Hamlin's Desta Mender, meaning ‘Joy Village’ in Amharic is looking ahead to the next chapter. ...
MEDIA RELEASE A ground-breaking initiative in Ethiopia is aiming to empower women who have faced years of social isolation and suffering due to devastating fistula injuries, and therefore struggle to make an income independently. The Women’s Empowerment Program at Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia’s Desta Mender (founded by pioneering Australian Dr Catherine Hamlin) is training survivors of […]...
2022 marks 20 years since Catherine established Desta Mender, Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia’s Rehabilitation and Reintegration Centre....
As part of International Women’s Day 2022, Hamlin is reflecting on the importance of breaking the bias that obstetric fistula patients face....
“They are all precious to me. For every patient that comes to us we try to give them all the love, care and expertise that we have to help them to get better and back to a normal life.” – Dr Catherine Hamlin Rehabilitation and reintegration in FY21 The team at Hamlin’s Rehabilitation and Reintegration […]...
Empower women, empower communities Dr Catherine Hamlin believed that treating an obstetric fistula patient isn’t just treating a hole in the bladder, but rather the whole woman with love and care. In 2002, Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia opened Desta Mender, Hamlin’s Rehabilitation and Reintegration Centre, where long-term fistula patients undergo education classes and learn income-generating skills to […]...
The tragedy of obstetric fistula One of the worst things that can happen to a woman or girl is an obstetric fistula, an internal injury caused by an obstructed labour during childbirth that leaves her incontinent and shunned by her community. The physical consequences of this childbirth injury are debilitating. The hole between the birth […]...
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