Hanan is proud to call herself a Hamlin Midwife. She recently graduated from the Hamlin College of Midwives with a BSc degree in Midwifery and has returned to her home state of Benishangul-Gumuz in northwestern Ethiopia. She is looking forward to serving the women in her community.
We caught up with Hanan after her graduation ceremony in October. She told us about her time studying at the Hamlin College of Midwives and shared her favourite memory with us.
“I’m really very happy that I’m a Hamlin Midwife because it’s not easy to [become one]. Hamlin is the best [midwifery] college in our country.
My training was for the past four years. I was trained in so many things, like there’s practice at the end of every semester that I get so much knowledge and skills from, for example, family planning training. There are different kinds of training in our college.
My dream is to achieve Dr. Catherine Hamlin’s goal. As a family midwife, I will try to eradicate obstetric fistula from our country. I’m going to achieve her dream. That will make me so happy. I feel excited and happy to get this opportunity to serve our people.
My favourite memory was, uh, there’s so many things. When I came here for the first time, there is orientation for the first-year class, and when I get to the classroom, I’m fearful and I’m stressed because it’s the first time. Already, there is staff saying “Don’t fear. Be strong.” And I remember that.
My family is feeling happy and excited to share this special day with me. They are proud of me and the Hamlin College of Midwifery.”
Access to midwifery care in rural areas saves lives
With only 16,159 trained midwives for a population of 130 million people, there is a vital need to train and deploy more Hamlin Midwives like Hanan to remote communities where their skills and dedication are urgently needed.
A cornerstone of Catherine’s vision was to ensure that women in Ethiopia have access to quality healthcare to prevent fistula injuries in the first place.
Each student at the world-renowned Hamlin College of Midwives undertakes a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Midwifery and commits to working as a Hamlin Midwife for a minimum of four years following their graduation. Students are deployed back to their local areas to work in Hamlin-supported midwifery clinics across the country.
Every student is on a full Hamlin scholarship, funded by generous donors.
Hanan told us how grateful she is to those who have given her the opportunity to serve the mothers in her community.
“Thank you to the international donors. Your donation is not for me only.
If you support one student at the Hamlin College, it seems like you support 100 mothers who live in remote areas that give birth with complicated labours. Because one Hamlin Midwife can support so many women to save the life of many mothers and newborns.
Your donation is very important for our country. Ethiopia is a developing country and looking to develop more and to generate a healthy generation for the future. Thank you so much.” – Hanan, Hamlin Midwife
Donate here to help train another Hamlin Midwife like Hanan to help more women give birth safely and stop preventable childbirth injuries.
