“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 82,000 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
Obstetric fistula is a devastating childbirth injury that can lead to severe social isolation, often fuelled by misconceptions about uncleanliness or infertility. Many women experience profound shame and exclusion alongside physical pain and psychological trauma. Nearly all patients treated at Hamlin’s hospitals report psychological distress linked to their condition.
At Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia, the Rehabilitation & Reintegration Program is a vital continuation of care for women recovering from obstetric fistula. It supports them to reclaim their health, dignity and independence beyond surgery. The program addresses the physical, psychological, social and economic effects of fistula, helping women rebuild their confidence and prepare for the future.
The internationally recognised Hamlin Model of Care places each woman at the centre of her recovery. Alongside medical treatment, women receive counselling and support to strengthen their literacy and numeracy skills, rebuild social connections and prepare for life after treatment. Economic empowerment is also central to successful reintegration, with women supported to return to their communities with practical skills, personalised plans and, where appropriate, start-up assistance to help them build greater independence.