Blen Abrahim is a Hamlin Midwife working in Fedis Woreda.
Blen believes being a Hamlin Midwife is a blessing.
She graduated from the Hamlin College of Midwives in 2016 and works at the Boko Health Centre in Fedis Woreda [district] as a Hamlin Midwife and team leader.
She feels fortunate to have received her midwifery education at the College, which is a centre of excellence for the training of midwives in Ethiopia.
“I feel very lucky for this opportunity. I utilise the knowledge I gained in college to ensure safe deliveries. I provide all necessary support and I am committed to caring for newborns, overseeing the delivery, administering vaccinations, and more.
When a woman discovers her pregnancy I provide antenatal care including a follow-up schedule and health education. I reassure her about delivering at the health centre. It is crucial to manage situations early - if complications arise, we must send the mother to the nearest hospital for advanced care. During delivery, I provide care based on the protocols I learned in my education, ensuring a safe delivery. I also offer essential newborn and follow up care."
The challenges faced by Hamlin Midwives
"During my time at Hamlin College, I learned using both standard and advanced equipment. However, upon my deployment to this centre I encountered a paradox compared to what I had learned. Even though not all equipment is available, I will employ all necessary methods to facilitate a safe delivery. The lack of standard resources and the latest equipment remains a significant challenge.
Another challenge is that women may deliver at home with the assistance of traditional birth attendants. They may only arrive when they are in the second stage of labour which presents a significant challenge for us.”
Fedis Woreda is the latest district to be the focus of a Project Zero pilot, following successful pilots in Ale, Didesa and Seharti Woredas. Project Zero is critical to strengthening maternal healthcare services within Ethiopia to reduce the incidence of birth injuries.
The goal is to establish a midwifery clinic in every woreda (district), staffed by Hamlin Midwives like Blen.
"I proudly said, ‘I am very lucky to be a midwife.’ The family of that baby still thinks of me and knows me. When they say, "Your child is growing" it brings me a deep sense of joy. I am truly delighted to hear this."
- Blen Abrahim
When Blen was less than three months into her career, she faced her first serious challenge.
“I helped a woman deliver her baby after a long labour but the baby was in distress. I was alone and had to manage the situation by myself. I continued to work to save the baby. I was filled with hope and excitement when he began to cry properly. I placed him with his mother and helped initiate breastfeeding.
I would like to express my gratitude to Hamlin College of Midwives and Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia for sponsoring my education and helping me achieve this milestone. I also want to extend my thanks to my family for their support. I aspire to pursue my master's and PhD to reach a higher level in my career.”
Project Zero
Project Zero is an ambitious yet achievable program that adopts a systematic approach to treatment and prevention. Using a Woreda-by-Woreda (district) approach, Hamlin-trained teams will visit each and every household, in both rural and urban areas, to find women living with an obstetric fistula injury, and organise care and treatment. Read More.
