Meet our Clinical Team: Sister Tirgalem

Sister Tirgalem Beyene is the Matron at Hamlin’s Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital.

Sister Tirgalem has been working at Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia since 2008.

She had previously worked at Black Lion Hospital and one of the private hospitals in Addis Ababa before she came to Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia. Sister Tirgalem graduated with her first degree in nursing from St. Paulos Nursing School at Addis Ababa University. 

As Matron of the Hamlin Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, she sees firsthand the transformation of women suffering from obstetric fistula. She told us, "I am very happy to work here. It's lifestyle changing. We are treating people and treating urinary incontinence from birth injuries. The women are coming from very remote areas. They are very poor. So, we are very happy to treat them.

When new patients come here, they are first registered in the reception. Then they go to outpatient department for the physical examination. If they have other medical problems we treat them accordingly. Then we admit the patient and we give shower and also give a blanket and pajamas." 

She wants to see a future Ethiopia free from fistula, maternal and neonatal death and for all Ethiopian women to have safe delivery at the hands of skilled birth attendants. 

I have no way to explain this service. As Dr. Catherine Hamlin said, it's about treating not only the hole, we are treating the whole patient, physical, social, psychological and also spiritual. In general, we are giving holistic care.

Sister Tirgalem