Prilli Stevens was the Chief Professional Nurse in the Stoma Therapy Unit at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa; she retired in 2005. Prilli first met Dr Catherine Hamlin in 1995. Below is the second instalment of Prilli Stevens’ account of working with Hamlin’s Stoma Therapy team at the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital. The plight of young women […]

“To send women home to experience a normal life, after all they have suffered, is the greatest reward we can have.” - Dr Catherine Hamlin Rehabilitation Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia’s Rehabilitation and Reintegration centre, Desta Mender, embodies the Hamlin Model of Care, which is grounded in a fundamental respect for women with obstetric fistula injuries and […]

“My dream is for a midwife in every village of Ethiopia.” - Dr Catherine Hamlin Prevention In Program Year 2020, Hamlin Midwives continued to prevent obstetric fistula and hundreds of maternal and neonatal deaths. They also support, nurture and empower women while sharing invaluable knowledge and building trusting networks, transforming entire communities in rural Ethiopia. […]

Treatment Obstetric fistula is a complex injury that requires special treatment and care. The physical and psychological consequences are both debilitating and heartbreaking. Yet, most fistula injuries can be repaired with a simple 60-minute operation which completely restores a woman’s life and dignity. From July 2019-June 2020 (FY20), the team at Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia continued […]

Thank you for your continued compassion As 2020 draws to a close, we reflect on an extraordinary year which saw the very sad passing of Dr Catherine Hamlin and the terrible impact of a global pandemic. We thank you for your continued compassion, love and trust in us. Mother Teresa once said: "Not all of […]

Ayana is one of the 24 patients found in the initial phase of Hamlin's Patient Identification Program. Her story is one of resilience through tragedy - and her journey to finding hope. The pain of fistula Ayana grew up in rural Southern Ethiopia, in a remote village where access to infrastructure is limited. In the […]

Dr Biniyam Sirak is the Medical Director and Surgeon at Hamlin's Yirgalem Fistula Hospital. Like so many talented Ethiopians, Biniyam was drawn to working with Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia because of its commitment to caring for vulnerable women suffering with obstetric fistula. A career written in the stars Biniyam's connection to Hamlin is certainly unique: he […]

Ruth Kennedy is a Scottish midwife who grew up in Brazil. Ruth first met Dr Catherine Hamlin in 1991. Below is the second in a series of blogs about her experience working with Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia. Our friendship developed from that first introduction. The delightful old-world afternoon tea that Catherine offered to those she favored, […]