Obstetric fistula is a horrific childbirth injury causing incontinence, leaving young women as social outcasts. Many of these young women in Ethiopia are teenagers.
When a young teenage girl suffering with obstetric fistula hears about the work of Hamlin Fistula, they are usually located in some of the most remote parts of Ethiopia and have to endure a laborious trek to get to the nearest hospital. For most, this will mean many kilometres of walking, usually barefoot.
The Hamlin Barefoot Challenge is a great way to get a small sense of what women who have a fistula may experience when making the strenuous journey to a hospital.