
An oasis of healing
The Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital was founded in 1974 by
Australian obstetrician-gynecologist, Drs. Catherine Hamlin,
and her New Zealand born ob-gyn husband, Reginald. The
Hospital has restored the lives and hopes of more than
32,000 women who would have otherwise perished or suffered
lifelong complications brought on by childbirth injuries,
specifically obstetric fistula. Today, the hospital provides
free fistula repair surgery to approximately 2,220 women
every year and cares for 35 long-term patients. Located
in Ethiopia, it is considered the preeminent hospital dedicated
exclusively to victims of obstetric fistula. They
have developed the model program for fistula treatment
worldwide, and have inspired numerous centers throughout
the developing world. It is the world center for fistula
treatment, long-term
care, and prevention.
Long-term care for chronic patients
In recent years the number of long-term patients slowly
rose to the point where there was neither enough work for
them at the hospital, or enough room to shelter them. In
2000, the hospital requested and eventually received a
grant of approximately 60 acres of land located eight miles
from the hospital. There they built Desta Mender (meaning
"Village of Joy" in Amharic), a village of ten
cottages and two common buildings to house long-term care
patients.
Dramatic expansion to help cure many more women
and prevent more fistulas
Hamlin Fistula Hospitals has initiated an expansion project
to build five mini-fistula
hospitals throughout Ethiopia. Four of the mini-hospitals
are open in Bahir Dar, Mekele, Yirgalem and Harar; each
is expected to treat approximately 400 patients per year.
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