Hamlin Charitable Fistula Hospitals Trust NZ

Hamlin Fistula NZ exists to assist women in Ethiopia who suffer from horrific birth injuries.

The Trust takes its name from an unsung NZ hero Dr Reg Hamlin and his Australian wife Dr Catherine Hamlin, who together established a special hospital in Addis Ababa to treat women with fistula.

Founded over 60 years ago by the pioneering surgeons, their extraordinary journey started with an initial three-year posting to Ethiopia. Today, it reflects a lifetime quest to provide world best treatment to the most marginalised women: those who have suffered an obstetric fistula, an internal injury caused by a prolonged, unrelieved obstructed labour, which leaves them incontinent, humiliated and cut off from their communities.

Fistula sufferers are the lepers of the 21st century.

These injuries are entirely preventable. Obstetric fistulas are virtually a thing of the past in countries like New Zealand. But in rural Ethiopia, where women have little or no access to maternal healthcare, they will be in agonising labour for days if their birth is obstructed. They almost always lose their baby and suffer horrific internal damage that leaves them leaking urine, faeces, and sometimes both.

If that wasn’t traumatic enough, these women are isolated and pushed to the edge of their society – forgotten and invisible.

Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia works to mend this trauma, healing these women through surgery, rehabilitation and counselling – so they can be whole again.

For many patients, the surgery is straight-forward and after rest and recuperation, they are ready to go home. $700 provides everything needed to treat one obstetric fistula patient: good food, a nightgown and bedding, nursing care, physiotherapy, life-changing surgery, literacy and numeracy classes, a new dress and money to travel home.

Due to the stigma associated with obstetric fistula, many women cannot return to their communities and few have an income that allows them to live independently. That’s why Catherine founded Desta Mender (‘Joy Village’) in 2002 as a recovery centre where long-term fistula patients with severe injuries can continue to heal.

After 60 years the Hamlin Model of Care remains a core part of the organisation today. It is a culture instilled across the work of Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia. Many of our 550 staff worked alongside Catherine over many years, even decades, and were greatly inspired by her passion and professionalism. In fact, many are also former fistula patients themselves.

The result is clinical excellence that does not compromise on treating every woman with compassion and dignity.

The Hamlin Model of Care also encompasses prevention. Hamlin midwifery students are recruited from rural areas and trained at the Hamlin College of Midwives. When they graduate they return to serve in their villages and are often the only healthcare workers for hundreds of kilometres.

In Ethiopia just 3 in 10 women have access to medical care during their pregnancy. The Hamlin midwifery program is a cornerstone of Dr Catherine Hamlin’s vision to ensure that women in Ethiopia no longer have to suffer an obstructed labour for days on end with no medical care. To date, there have been 170 graduates and in 2019 alone, Hamlin midwives delivered over 30,000 babies.

This is more than a charity that provides a handout it provides community transformation! xx

Hamlin Fistula NZ raises funds for Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia. We have one purpose and one purpose only: eradicating fistula.

Forever.