For Immediate Release
December 30, 2004

Fistula Foundation Honors Oprah Winfrey for Inspiring Philanthropy

In response to a January 2004 episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show, The Fistula Foundation today announced funding for The Oprah Winfrey Centre for the Women of Ethiopia, a 3,000 square-foot training and clinical facility which will open in 2005 at Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia. The centre has been named for Oprah Winfrey in honor of the 17,000 of her viewers who became Fistula Foundation donors after watching a show focusing on the problem of obstetric fistula in Ethiopia.

During the January 16th, 2004 airing, Ms.Winfrey appealed to her viewers to contribute to the treatment and prevention of the debilitating childbirth injury by donating to Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital via the US-based Fistula Foundation. A portion of the resulting contributions will be used to build and permanently endow The Oprah Winfrey Centre for the Women of Ethiopia.

The Oprah Winfrey Centre for the Women of Ethiopia at Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital is comprised of two buildings housing classrooms for nurse training, private counseling rooms, and specialized clinical facilities. Hospital administrators indicate that the centre will greatly improve the quality of care for the 1,200 fistula patients who are treated at Fistula Hospital each year.

On December 12th, 2004, Ms. Winfrey visited the centre in Ethiopia where she was honored with a special reception hosted by hospital founder, Dr. Catherine Hamlin, and attended by the staff and patients of Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital.

The Fistula Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in the United States committed to the treatment and prevention of obstetric fistula. The foundation is dedicated to reducing the incidence of obstetric fistula in Ethiopia and restoring health and dignity to women injured in childbirth.

For further information, contact Shaleece Haas at (212) 361-6110 or media@fistulafoundation.org.