Hamlin Fistula UK

Gadissie graduated from Hamlin College of Midwives with a BSc midwifery degree. She feels confident in her skills thanks to the world-class training she received. Her studies were paid for by a full Hamlin scholarship, funded by generous donors like you. Gadissie was recently placed at the Watar Hamlin-supported midwifery clinic for a minimum of four years. In her first month alone she delivered twelve babies. “Hamlin midwives are very important in the community. We are working to prevent obstetric fistula. We diagnose obstructed labour early and take action. We teach about the importance of institutional delivery, antenatal care, and immunisation.” Please donate today to train more midwives like Gadissie. You can ensure there are more happy and healthy mothers and babies in Ethiopia next year.

Dr Catherine Hamlin’s passion was to improve maternal healthcare for some of the world’s most vulnerable women.   Together, we can achieve her vision of a well-trained midwife in every village of Ethiopia. 💛💛How you can help   Your donation today could: 🩺Provide new equipment and essential medical supplies for rural health clinics, to ensure that all women receive the highest quality care. 🎓Fund a scholarship to the Hamlin College of Midwives, to train more midwives. 💙Support the placement of Hamlin midwives in clinics across Ethiopia, so more women experience a safe birth.   Please donate today 🙏 https://bit.ly/3B5zDUQ (link in bio)

Kedida is a young newly-married woman living in a remote village of eastern Ethiopia. She and her husband eagerly awaited the birth of their first child.   During her pregnancy, she heard about the importance of seeking support from a skilled healthcare worker during childbirth.   When labour started, she took a local public transport service to the Watar health clinic. Luckily, a Hamlin midwife called Gadissie had just started working there. Gadissie has a BSc Midwifery degree from Hamlin College of Midwives.   There are more than 90 Hamlin-supported midwifery clinics like Watar across Ethiopia. Each clinic has at least one skilled Hamlin midwife in residence. Every Hamlin-supported midwifery clinic is fully stocked with essential medical supplies and equipment, ensuring the best quality care can be delivered to women. Kedida was welcomed by Gadissie, and taken to the newly renovated delivery room to prepare for childbirth. A short time later, Kedida’s baby was delivered safely. Kedida returned home cradling a beautiful baby girl. Both mother and baby are happy and healthy. Kedida has since returned to the clinic for post-natal care. Gadissie gives immunisations to the baby and offers advice on breast-feeding and family planning.  Kedida told us,   “The Hamlin midwife is committed to supporting me in accessing health services, empowering me to take control of my future and make informed decisions for myself and my family. With continued guidance and encouragement, I hope to navigate challenges and ultimately pursue my educational goals.” Please make a donation this Christmas to help another woman like Kedida give birth safely:

What could be worse than a woman giving birth to a stillborn baby?   Jittu* woke up in a hospital bed, alone, on soaking wet sheets. A nurse told her that, as well as losing her precious baby, she had sustained a devastating birth injury called an obstetric fistula.   Jittu’s pregnancy had progressed smoothly. But after two agonising days in obstructed labour, she made the long and difficult journey to find help to deliver her baby. When she arrived on foot at the nearest health clinic, Jittu was turned away. Nobody there had the midwifery skills to help her. Jittu was transported to a nearby rural hospital by ambulance. But it was too late to save her baby or prevent an obstetric fistula injury from occurring.  Jittu returned home in despair with no baby to love. For over a year, she suffered from incontinence.  She told us,   “I rarely left my home and isolated myself. I also had pain in my leg that made it difficult to move around. I slept day and night. My husband and family hated me because of my condition” This is the unimaginable situation faced by around 1,000 Ethiopian women like Jittu every year. Without timely access to skilled midwifery care, too many women lose their babies. The resulting childbirth injuries can devastate their lives for years and even decades. Your donation this Christmas could help the next woman like Jittu give birth safely. Care from a trained midwife could have saved Jittu’s baby and prevented her obstetric fistula.  Please make a donation this Christmas to prevent another woman like Jittu from suffering this double tragedy 🙏💛

Jittu and Kedida* both live in rural villages. Their lives have been very similar and they shared a dream of motherhood. But when the time came to give birth, there was one crucial difference between Jittu and Kedida. One mother-to-be had the good fortune to live near a health centre where a Hamlin-trained midwife works. She gave birth safely, to a happy and healthy baby girl. Without the support of a Hamlin midwife, the other woman lost her baby during a long and agonising labour. She returned home grieving and suffering the pain and shame of a devasting childbirth injury - obstetric fistula. ✨This Christmas, we are raising funds to train more Hamlin midwives. Because every mother deserves to give birth safely 💛 Please donate today 🙏 https://lnkd.in/eGin5pbx *names have been changed

#EthiopiaFacts Ciao! did you know that Ethiopia was occupied (but never colonised) by Italy and the Italian influence is still strong in architecture, food, drink and language. You'll find traditional Italian food like pasta, see macchiato on the menu, find buildings built around a piazza as well hear locals greet each other with a cheery 'ciao'.

#FromTheArchives This photo captures the start of Hamlin Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital! The hospital was officially opened in 1974 on land alongside a little river with funds donated from New Zealand. 💛Soon it would become known as 'the hospital by the river'.

We have to keep these issues at the top of the political agenda” – we completely agree with the RT Hon Anneliese Dodds Minister of State for Development and for Women and Equalities on the importance of championing reproductive rights and gender equality. Our Head of Partnerships Julia Strong was grateful to have the opportunity to hear Anneliese speaking and represent Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia at a recent event hosted by UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Global Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights at the House of Lords. Thanks to UNFPA London Mónica Ferro and International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF)

Thanks all you brilliant knitters for sending us your wonderful creations. In 2024 we've been able to send 2,392 blankets to Ethiopia. This is the highest number we have given to the women who we care for at our hospitals since 2021 and over 700 more than last year 💛 Thank you 🧶🧶💛

THANK YOU 🧶🧶 This October our wonderful volunteer knitters sent us: 🧶986 blankets 🧶451 baby cardigans 🧶391 baby hats Each one of these lovingly made items will be sent to Ethiopia to be treasured and used by the patients in our hospitals. We're so grateful for your kindness and generosity.