“They are all precious to me. For every patient that comes to us we try to give them all the love, care and expertise that we have to help them get better and back to a normal life.”
– Dr Catherine Hamlin
Restoring Health and Dignity with Rehabilitation
Over the past 65 years, Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia has restored the health and dignity of more than 70,000 Ethiopian women with obstetric fistula. Dr Catherine Hamlin always believed that treating a fistula patient isn’t just treating a hole in the bladder, but rather the whole woman with love and care.
That’s why she developed a Rehabilitation and Reintegration Program at Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia to further support women recovering from fistula injuries. The program embodies the Hamlin Model of Care and empowers women to live a life with independence and dignity.
Hamlin’s Rehabilitation & Reintegration Centre – Desta Mender
In 2002, Dr Catherine Hamlin founded Hamlin’s Rehabilitation and Reintegration Centre, Desta Mender. Desta Mender (‘Joy Village’ in Amharic), is a recovery centre where longer-term fistula patients with more severe injuries can continue to heal and those who need empowerment through training and psycho-social support stay. Some women with complex cases may need multiple surgeries and ongoing care.
Repairing a woman’s fistula injury is not the end of her story. Having lived in social isolation for months or even years, re-entering the community can be daunting and few have an income that allows them to live independently.
At Desta Mender each woman has a tailored rehabilitation and reintegration program. Women are offered counselling, literacy and numeracy classes, as well as vocational and life skills training.
The Hamlin team supports women to find sustainable employment upon reintegration back into their communities. In some cases, this also includes the facilitation of start up grants to establish their own business, enabling these women to generate an income.
Hamlin’s Women’s Empowerment Program
In 2021, Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia, with the support of Women’s Hope International, developed and launched the Women’s Empowerment Program to provide more former fistula patients with the chance to learn at Desta Mender. Initially, training was provided for women in need of income support through a three-month residency program to learn vital vocational skills. Today, it is a two-month programsu pported by Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia and its partners. This groundbreaking initiative empowers women to live with choices and independence – in turn empowering their community and those around them. The program offers a range of opportunities, including small-business guidance.
Tigist Aman, Hamlin’s Rehabilitation & Reintegration Manager, believes the Women’s Empowerment Program will complement the work that is taking place at Desta Mender.
“The additional vocational training will create a complete healing process for women with childbirth injuries and enable them to rebuild their lives with confidence.”
The feedback from former patients has been overwhelmingly positive; the program is truly life changing for women like Mulu: “I used to live in much suffering. When we were invited for this training after being cured, I was so happy and did not have words to express… I hope to open a small inn in my village and sell food.”
Our impact
At Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia, the Rehabilitation & Reintegration Program is a vital continuation of care for women recovering from obstetric fistula – empowering them to reclaim health, dignity, and independence beyond surgery. Our holistic model addresses the physical, psychological, social, and economic challenges faced by survivors, helping them rebuild meaningful lives with confidence.
Obstetric fistula is a devastating childbirth injury that often results in social isolation due to stigma fueled by misconceptions such as uncleanliness or infertility. Many women endure profound shame and exclusion, compounded by physical pain and psychological trauma. Nearly all patients treated at Hamlin’s hospitals report psychological distress linked to their condition.
The Hamlin Model of Care is internationally recognized for its compassionate, whole-person approach. During the 2024/25 fiscal year, 2,156 women completed numeracy and literacy modules, equipping them with essential life skills. Additionally, psychological counseling and community engagement activities have benefited hundreds more: 1,185 women reported improved psychological and spiritual well-being, while 1,147 noted enhanced social interactions, critical markers of holistic recovery. Economic empowerment also stands at the core of successful reintegration. This year, 386 women reentered their communities supported by personalized business plans and start-up capital.