“Hamlin is a centre of excellence in its holistic and patient-centred care. It is a well-structured, ever-growing institution that grabs the interest of whoever wants to grow further.”
– Dr Biniyam Sirak, Medical Director and Surgeon, Hamlin’s Yirgalem Fistula Hospital
Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia works with Training Partners to ensure best-practice medical service is delivered at all Hamlin hospitals, as well as being shared beyond the borders of Ethiopia. Hamlin’s clinical team are empowered with training opportunities to grow professionally and to hone specialised skills. Drs Reg and Catherine Hamlin instilled an ethos of an unwavering gold standard – this remains central to Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia today.
International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)
Fistula Surgery Training Initiative
Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia has a long and storied tradition of training surgeons from around the world and operating as a global centre of excellence in obstetric fistula treatment.
When Hamlin’s Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital first opened in 1974, surgeons would visit the hospital to learn from Drs Reg and Catherine Hamlin, who pioneered the surgical technique and holistic treatment for women with obstetric fistula. This practice evolved over the decades, and Hamlin fistula surgeons went on to travel abroad to other medical facilities to provide training in fistula repair techniques.
In 2014, Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia began working in partnership with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) on the ‘FIGO Fistula Surgery Training Initiative’. Working in close collaboration with established fistula treatment facilities – FIGO Training Centres, the initiative aims to increase the number of skilled, competent fistula surgeons in low income and under-resourced countries around the world, where fistula remains a key public health issue.
Since becoming a FIGO Training Centre, Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia, has supported the training of surgical trainees – FIGO Fellows – and multidisciplinary teams. To join the program, interested applicants apply through FIGO but the decision on who is accepted is taking jointly with HFE’s Medical Director and FIGO Trainer, Dr Biniam Sirak.
Once enrolled in the program, FIGO Fellows are provided training at Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia to acquire fistula surgery skills and knowledge of the Hamlin Model of Care. The entry point to the program for FIGO Fellows is the initial training placement which lasts for six weeks and when FIGO Fellows are trained at HFE, the training is usually divided into two weeks at HFE’s Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital and four weeks in one of HFE’s regional hospitals.
In the last years, five surgeons from Bangladesh, Benin, Benin, Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo received training at the HFE’s Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, learning best-practice technique for fistula surgery. More FIGO Fellows are scheduled to undertake training in the coming years. So far, more than 30 surgeons from 19 countries across Africa and Asia and 27 allied healthcare professionals, including nurses and physiotherapists from around the world have undergone FIGO Training. These surgeons and allied health professionals are now using their skills to help women in places such as Madagascar, Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo and other countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
In September 2022, FIGO’s Expert Advisory Group, chaired by Andrew Browning and previously included former HFE Medical Director Dr Yeshineh Demerew , published a new training manual for fistula surgeons. The FIGO Fistula Surgery Training Manual contains new content, for example the latest surgical techniques, new surgical illustrations and wall charts. This manual is the leading educational resource for the Fistula Surgery Training Initiative, as well as for the global fistula community.
The devastating impacts of fistula are not just limited to Ethiopia, that is why the fight to eradicate obstetric fistula is a global fight. Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia is proud to work with surgeons beyond the borders of Ethiopia; by collaborating and sharing knowledge and skills we will get closer to ending this preventable childbirth injury once and for all.
Mekelle University and Worldwide Fistula Fund
The Urogynaecology Fellowship Program
The Urogynecology Fellowship Program began in 2015 with the goal of equipping surgeons with advanced skills to treat complex urogynecological conditions, restore continence, achieve safe diversion, preserve renal function, and ultimately improve quality of life.
This program is run by Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia in collaboration with Mekelle University and the Worldwide Fistula Fund. It consists of three years of specialized education in urogynecology, female pelvic medicine, and reconstructive surgery. The program is accredited through Mekelle University, with funding provided by the Worldwide Fistula Fund.
This fellowship program is uniquely designed to foster collaboration between a charity, a clinical services organization, and a government-funded medical teaching institution, enhancing training and expertise through shared resources and professional experiences.
The curriculum has clear admission criteria and prerequisites for completion. It is modular, with each module containing three levels of competency. Fellows must complete all three levels and undertake problem-based assessments in each module, reviewed by expert academic staff.
Training sessions are typically conducted across the Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia’s regional fistula hospitals and Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Mekelle University. This approach facilitates specialized treatment delivery throughout the country and promotes the transfer of knowledge and skills.
To date, seven fellows have graduated from the program, with five currently serving at Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia. Two fellows are still in their studies, and new recruits will join the program soon. Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia is taking a leading role in the development and training of urogynecology fellowships across Ethiopia.