In early April, the team at Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia lost a much-beloved colleague when Lete – known as ‘Weleliye’ meaning sweet – passed away at the Hamlin Fistula Hospital in Addis Ababa.
One of the earliest patients of Drs Reg and Catherine Hamlin, Lete was referred to the Princess Tsehai Hospital in Addis Ababa for obstetric fistula treatment – the Hamlin’s first workplace in Ethiopia. This chance meeting with the Hamlins would change the course of her life.
At around the same time, Mamitu Gashe met Lete when she too came to the Hamlins for treatment for her own childbirth injury. Both women would go on to dedicate their lives to supporting the Hamlins’ work and caring for Ethiopian women seeking treatment.
Years after moving to Addis Ababa, Lete was involved in a car accident which resulted in her needing a wheelchair. Despite this, her commitment to supporting patients and the daily life of the hospital never wavered.
She once described her routine like this: “Every day, I do rounds in my wheelchair to comfort the patients. I tell them they will be cured and share my own life journey as an example. This helps them feel relaxed and hopeful about their recovery. I also remind them to be grateful for the compassionate care they receive here.
Lete will be remembered for her kindness, encouragement and steadfast devotion to the women in Hamlin’s care. Here, Mamitu and her colleagues reflect on the impact Lete had on their lives and work, and on the loss that will be deeply felt following her passing.
Mamitu Gashe, world-renowned fistula surgeon
I first met Lete in 1962. She had arrived three months before me.
I was very weak at the time, and she stayed by my side, comforting me constantly. We slept in the same room, and she looked out for me with a special kind of care. We did everything together. Whenever I went out to sit in the sunlight, she would join me to chat and keep me company.
When she was cured and ready to leave, no one came to collect her. When Abaye [Dr Reg Hamlin] arrived, she told him that the people supposed to take her had not appeared. He assured her that she would be his child. She was so happy that she went back to her room and changed her clothes. She never left the hospital after that.
Abaye would visit us when we sat outside. Even though we didn’t always understand his words, we understood from his expression that he was asking how we were doing. He would give us coins to buy soft drinks. We lived together in a hostel with the other girls.
Lete and I started formally working for the Hamlin’s, even though she had already been helping previously. Everybody loved her – Emaye [Dr Catherine] and Abaye, the patients, and the nurses alike. She couldn’t bear to see anyone sad and offered comfort to every patient she met.
Dr Solomon Abebe, General Manager
Lete’s life was a powerful testament to resilience and quiet courage. Having endured the dual trauma of obstetric fistula and a serious car accident, she faced challenges that would have broken many, yet she chose to persevere with dignity and strength. Through her healing journey, she became a symbol of hope for other women; showing that recovery is not only possible, but that life beyond hardship can still hold purpose and meaning. Those who knew Lete remember her not for the pain she endured, but for her gentle spirit, determination, and the inspiration she gave to others walking a similar path. As we honour her memory, we also carry a shared responsibility to promise that we will continue to pursue the ideals she stood for, advancing compassion, access to care, and dignity for every woman. Her legacy will live on in the lives she touched and the hope she helped restore.
Likelesh, Blanket Manager
I have known Lete since our time at Princess Tsehai Hospital. There were five of us when we moved to the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital. We cared for the patients as a team and ate from one large plate. Lete used to ‘order’ us with love to finish our food, and she always took charge of dishing out the meals herself. In the ward, if she heard a patient’s voice, she would get up immediately – faster than anyone else. She would ask the patient what was wrong and try to comfort her. She herself never admitted to being tired. Because she always found a way to keep busy, the staff gave her a nickname: job creator. She truly loved to work. I left my own mother when I was just a child, so I looked at Lete as my mother, my sister, and my dearest friend. Losing her feels like losing all three at once.
Sister Konjit Kassahun, Prevention Manager & Project Zero Manager
Today, we remember our dear Lete affectionately known to us all as Weleliye, meaning “sweet.” And truly, she lived up to that name. Even while in a wheelchair herself, she never stopped caring for others. In the main ward, she fed patients, guided them, and gently encouraged them to do their exercises. Her strength, kindness, and quiet determination gave us all peace of mind. We trusted her completely with our most vulnerable patients. She was one of the most senior and deeply loved nurse aides among us and was also cherished by Catherine Hamlin. We are deeply grateful for her compassion, her love, and her unwavering dedication. Weleliye’s sweetness will remain in our hearts forever.
Betelhem Tadesse, General Practitioner
Weleliye was a true symbol of endurance. One of the greatest lessons I learned from her was the power of gratitude – being thankful no matter the circumstances. While we will always wish we could still see her, we are grateful for the opportunity to honour her with a meaningful farewell. May her soul rest in peace. As she always said, ኢየሱስ ተመስገን።
Sister Tirgalem Beyene, Matron
We honour our dear colleague, Lete, who worked with kindness for many years. Even though she was in a wheelchair, she kept on helping patients by feeding them, guiding them, and caring for them with amazing strength and dedication. People will always remember her kindness. May her soul rest in peace.
Honouring Lete’s life and legacy
To mark Lete’s passing, a memorial service was held at the Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia hospital in Addis Ababa, where colleagues shared personal memories and tributes.
Misgana Chelebo, Nurse Aide, said: “I cannot find the words to truly describe Weleliye. I once asked her, ‘You are our mother; what will happen to us when you go to God?’. She replied, ‘God is here, and He will be with you forever’.
“Her kindness was beyond measure. I don’t know how I will walk into the ward knowing she is gone. She was everything to us – our mother after Emaye.”
