Fistula hospital in Ethiopia - the mission to save the lives of some of the world's poorest women
Luciana O'Neill SpeakerNet Sponsor
- Organisation:
- Hamlin Fistula UK
- Regions:
- England, Hampshire
- Notice Period:
- Regular (more than one month's notice)
- Type:
- Charity
- Fee:
- Free
- Category:
- Charity
- Updated:
- 8th May 2026
- Tagged:
- Childbirth | Maternal Care | Fistulas | Ethiopia
The incredible story of Dr Reginald Hamlin and his wife, Dr Catherine Hamlin who, against a background of political upheaval, revolution and desperate poverty succeded in building a hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to treat gynaecologist fistulas. Their mission has saved the lives of over 60,000 of the poorest and neglected women on earth, restoring their health and their dignity.
The Hamlins' legacy lives on in what was Dr Catherine Hamlin' Model of care'. In her words, at the hospital "We don't just treat the hole in the bladder (fistula), we treat the whole patient with love and tender care, literacy and numeracy classes, a brand-new dress and money to travel home."
Views: 10 | Enquiries: 0About Luciana O'Neill
I was deeply touched by the real life stories described in the books THE HOSPITAL BY THE RIVER and HEALING LIVES. The Hospital by the river is the hospital founded in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, by Dr Reginald Hamlin and his wife, Dr Catherine Hamlin, to treat women who had suffered horrific childbirth injuries called fistulas.
HEALING LIVES is the moving and uplifting story of the friendship between Dr Catherine Hamlin and Mamitu Gashe who arrived at the hospital with horrific childbirth injuries. Mamitu was "adopted" by the Hamlins who treated her for her fistulas. She went on to become one of the most acclaimed fistula surgeons in the world despite being illiterate and never having had a day's schooling.
The work of the fistula hospital in Addis Ababa has saved the lives of over 60,000 of the poorest women on earth, restoring their health and, most importantly, their dignity and their place in society.
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