Every woman deserves to give birth safely and without harm. Yet in rural Ethiopia, the lack of access to quality maternity care leaves thousands of women suffering from devastating childbirth injuries, like obstetric fistula.
What is Obstetric Fistula?
One of the worst things that can happen to a woman is an obstetric fistula, an internal injury caused by an unrelieved obstructed labour during childbirth.
Obstetric fistula is caused by a prolonged, obstructed childbirth, when a woman lacks access to emergency medical care. During this time, the mother’s delicate tissues in the birth canal are destroyed while trying to give birth.
This results in a devastating injury – a hole forms between the birth canal and bladder and/or rectum resulting in uncontrollable leaking of urine and faeces.
Fistula deeply affects a woman’s life; it causes horrific, life-altering damage to the woman’s body, and brings with it shame, deepening poverty and social rejection.
Tragically, over 90% of women who suffer an obstetric fistula will give birth to a stillborn baby, often after an agonising obstructed labour that has lasted several days.
Survivors often live hidden away for years, sometimes decades, not realising they can be helped.
“Because of the fistula, I cried all day and night. My husband questioned why I had this condition and insisted that it was my problem, not his. He married someone else and now has two children while I have been living alone.” – Abebech (former fistula patient pictured above)
Founded by New Zealand and Australian obstetrician-gynaecologists, Drs Reg and Catherine Hamlin, in the 1960s, Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia is committed to treating and preventing childbirth injuries, restoring health, and transforming lives.
Treatment and Rehabilitation that Empowers
For most women, a simple surgery can repair their injury and restore their health and dignity.
Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia’s six hospitals performed a record-breaking 4,272 surgeries in 2024.
“We don’t just treat a hole in the bladder; we treat the whole patient with love and tender care.” – Dr Catherine Hamlin AC
The Hamlin Model of Care is a world-leading approach to treating fistula and sets out how care is delivered to treat the whole woman, not just her physical injury.
This approach is grounded in a fundamental respect for the patient as a human being first, and a commitment to provide them with comprehensive and compassionate care, as well as address the underlying causes of obstetric fistula in her community.
Upon arrival at a Hamlin hospital, patients are embraced with tender and loving care. They are given nutritious food, a handmade woven blanket and clean clothing. A customised program is made for each woman that includes nutrition, surgery, physical therapy, counselling and rehabilitation. This life-changing holistic care is provided free of charge thanks to our wonderful donors around the world.
At Desta Mender (‘Joy Village’), Hamlin’s rehabilitation and reintegration centre, patients receive vocational training, literacy classes, and start-up grants to help rebuild their lives.
Sakada’s Story
Sakada is 30 years old and lives in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. Earlier this year, she lost a baby and the grief is still written across her face.
Her first baby girl was born healthy and is now eight years old. But her second and third babies were sadly stillborn.
The birth injuries Sakada sustained during the obstructed labours resulted in incontinence. She felt ashamed and embarrassed because she didn’t realise there were other women who experienced a similar condition.
When she sought help at the local hospital, they referred her to Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia. Sakada and her husband walked four hours from their village to the bus stop, and travelled over 400km by bus to reach the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital.
“On my way here, I felt hopeful that I could be cured” – Sakada
Going home happy and healthy
Meeting other women at the hospital with obstetric fistula helped Sakada relax and feel optimistic. She had her surgery in early February. After two weeks of recovery, Sakada had her catheter removed and found out the surgery had worked – her obstetric fistula has been cured!
On the day she was discharged from hospital, her friends gathered around her bed and the whole ward broke into applause to mark this happy moment. Nurse Aid Birchiko who had looked after her on the ward presented her with her surgery aftercare notes, a new dress to go home in and her Hamlin Fistula blanket.
“I was so happy when they took the catheter out. I’m grateful for all the services that were provided here. I can’t wait to get home and see my eight-year-old daughter. I hope other women can come here to be cured like me. We have to be healthy for our children.” – Sakada
Over the past 65 years, Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia has treated 70,000+ women suffering from debilitating childbirth injuries.
