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Stories of Hope

April 14, 2025
Sakada's Story

Sakada is 30 years old and lives in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. Three months ago, she lost a baby and the grief is still written across her face. Her first baby girl was born healthy and is now eight years old. But her second and third babies were sadly stillborn. The birth injuries Sakada […]

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April 7, 2025
A baby after obstetric fistula for Debritu

Debritu is from a remote village far from the city in the Wollega region of Oromia. After three agonising days in obstructed labour with nobody to help her, Debritu finally sought help at a local health centre. She received no support but was referred to a local hospital. It was too late. Debritu’s baby was […]

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March 2, 2025
Abebech's Story

Imagine not being able to read or write your own name or contact your family in an emergency? This was the reality for Abebech. In her remote village in the Oromia region of Ethiopia, Abebech grew up helping her family on the land instead of attending school. After getting married and becoming pregnant, Abebech planned […]

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March 2, 2025
A Child Named 'Hamlin'

Biftu had a happy childhood growing up in a rural area where her family relied on farming. Soon after she got married, Biftu became pregnant and was excited to become a mother. But Biftu experienced a harrowing labour, enduring two excruciating weeks at home before her family finally took her to a health centre. Staff […]

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January 13, 2025
Thank you for your kind messages to our patients

Our patients love receiving your kind messages of love and support. Knowing they have your care and support from across the world gives them strength and courage during their recovery. Whether you send your messages to us in the post or online when making a donation, each one is delivered and attached to a beautiful […]

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January 13, 2025
Adanech - A role model in her community

Adanech sustained a devastating obstetric fistula during the birth of her seventh child, which left her incontinent and in immense physical and emotional pain. Unable to face the judgement of others, Adanech withdrew from her family and friends. “They [Hamlin staff] helped me triumph over pain and isolation to stand tall as a beacon of […]

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January 13, 2025
Creating a new future after obstetric fistula

Without an understanding of obstetric fistula and its causes, survivors are often subject to severe social stigma due to their smell, perceptions of uncleanliness, a mistaken assumption of venereal disease and sometimes infertility. Women are trapped in a life of pain, shame and isolation. Nearly all patients at Hamlin’s fistula hospitals report psychological issues associated […]

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January 13, 2025
Kelemi is affecting change in her community

Mother. Educator. Believer. These are what Kelemi has become since receiving life-changing surgery at Hamlin’s Yirgalem Fistula Hospital. But it was a long journey to get here. When Kelemi and her husband found out she was pregnant, they were very happy. Like every woman in her remote village, Kelemi planned to give birth at home […]

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December 3, 2024
Giving birth in safe hands

Kedida is one of the lucky ones. Pregnant with her first child, and recognising the signs of labour, she made her way by public transport to the Watar Hamlin-midwifery clinic. Gadissie, a newly graduated Hamlin Midwife, was there to welcome her. Having completed practical placements in several rural clinics while studying for her BSc Midwifery […]

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November 29, 2024
Give back this festive season

As we approach the holiday season, we look forward to celebrating with our families and friends; sharing a festive meal together and reflecting on the blessings of the past year. But families elsewhere in the world do not have as much to be thankful for. When a woman in Ethiopia does not receive the medical […]

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Hamlin Fistula NZ is committed to providing ongoing support for fistula surgery and for the preventive work of the midwives. The hospital in Addis Ababa has become a centre of excellence to which doctors from other countries come to learn and master the specialist skills of fistula surgery.

Photography credits to Mary F. Calvert, Kate Geraghty, Amber Hooper, Joni Kabana, Joli Wescombe, Natasha Meyer and Martha Tadesse.