Our Impact
For more than six decades, Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia has worked tirelessly to transform maternal healthcare in Ethiopia so that every woman can be free from the most horrific of all childbirth injuries, obstetric fistula.
In 1974, Doctors Catherine and Reg Hamlin opened the world’s first modern-day fistula hospital, recognising the urgent need to provide treatment to Ethiopian women living with the pain, suffering, and social isolation that accompanies obstetric fistula.
Today, the Hamlin healthcare network has grown to include six hospitals, the Desta Mender Rehabilitation Centre, the Hamlin College of Midwives, as well as more than 90 Hamlin-supported midwifery clinics across rural Ethiopia.
The legacy of Catherine Hamlin
Catherine’s impact on maternal healthcare provision in Ethiopia has been nothing short of remarkable:
- The Hamlin Model of Care, which combines clinical excellence with compassion, is recognised as the world’s best practice pre and post-operative fistula treatment.
- More than 70,000 women from across the breadth of Ethiopia have had their fistula injuries treated, and their health and dignity restored.
- The Hamlin healthcare network now offers treatment for Advanced Stage Pelvic Organ Prolapse, with an estimated 1 in 4 Ethiopian women living with this condition.
- Every year, over 4,000 surgeries are conducted at Hamlin hospitals.
- An average fistula closure rate of more than 90% is achieved.
- Since the establishment of the Hamlin College of Midwives, over 270 students have graduated, and the College now offers a postgraduate Masters in Midwifery in addition to its BSc program.
No other woman, or man, has done as much to eradicate this preventable, debilitating condition and give these women back their lives.
Accelerating Change for Women
Catherine’s vision to eradicate obstetric fistula in Ethiopia continues to be the organisation’s North Star.
As one of the leading women's health NGOs in Ethiopia, Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia is delivering lasting change for women affected by preventable childbirth injuries.
In 2023, we launched our ambitious Project Zero initiative which aims to find every one of the estimated 30,000 women living with historical birth injuries, and provide treatment.
At the same time, we are expanding our support to rural midwifery clinics, conducting community awareness on safe birth practices, and training a new generation of midwives.
Our work is part of a broader commitment to humanitarian work for women, ensuring access to quality maternal healthcare and restoring dignity to those who have suffered in silence.
While our focus is on Ethiopia, we are proud to contribute to global efforts to ensure all women have access to the maternal care that is their right.
We are determined to make Catherine’s vision a reality.
Learn how your support is making an impact
Every quarter, we publish our Treatment Dashboard, which provides statistical data on surgeries for each of Hamlin’s 6 hospitals.
In addition, we will share regular updates on Hamlin College of Midwives graduations, enrolments in our Women’s Empowerment Program at Desta Mender, and the latest patient identification numbers for Project Zero.
You can also read our most recent Year in Review Newsletter for more information.
Find Out More About Us
About Dr Catherine Hamlin AC
Where We Work
Catherine Hamlin Fistula Foundation acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Elders past, present and emerging throughout Australia and the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Traditional Owners of the land and waterways on which our Australian office is situated. We acknowledge the many ethnic groups in Ethiopia and their ancestral and cultural connection to the land where our work is undertaken.