Project Zero, Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia’s most ambitious program in decades, will finally make Ethiopia obstetric fistula-free – woreda (district)by woreda.
The pilot in Ale Woreda (district) in south-western Ethiopia concluded in October with encouraging results.
In just one woreda, Hamlin-trained teams carried out 14,664 house-to-house surveys and identified 7 women with decades-long fistula injuries who have been successfully treated.
Using learnings from the pilot, Project Zero will be rolled out to another three woredas in the first six months of 2024.
Project Zero is finding women who have suffered with fistula for years, even decades. Many have lived in social isolation and been shunned and humiliated by their communities and even their own families.
A core part of restoring a woman’s dignity and emotional wellbeing after the trauma of fistula is rebuilding their confidence through new skills so they can earn an income and live independently.
Every woman with a long-term or complex injury who is found by the Project Zero team is able to access tailored counselling, literacy and numeracy classes, vocational and life skills training at Desta Mender.
