“These women have suffered more than any woman should be called upon to endure. To meet only one is to be profoundly moved and calls forth the utmost compassion that the human heart is capable of feeling.”
– Dr Catherine Hamlin
What is Obstetric Fistula?
One of the worst things that can happen to a woman is an obstetric fistula, an internal injury caused by unrelieved obstructed labor during childbirth. A fistula is an internal injury in the form of a hole between the birth canal and the bladder and/or rectum, leading to leakage of urine or feces, or sometimes both.
Tragically, 93% of women who suffer from obstetric fistula give birth to stillborn babies, often after agonizing obstructed labor lasting several days. It is estimated that around 31,000 women are still living with untreated fistula injuries in Ethiopia, with an additional 1,000 women suffering new fistula injuries each year due to a lack of access to quality healthcare. These injuries leave women trapped in a life of pain, shame, and isolation.
Although obstetric fistula is almost entirely preventable, it remains a significant public health issue affecting many women worldwide. At Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia, we believe every woman should be able to deliver her baby safely and without harm.
What Causes Obstetric Fistula?
Approximately 5% of all pregnant women globally will experience obstructed labor. However, if emergency obstetric care is not readily available, this can lead to an obstetric fistula injury. The primary cause of obstetric fistula in Ethiopia is a lack of access to timely and quality maternal healthcare.
Barriers to access can include:
– A lack of skilled professionals able to diagnose and refer women for necessary medical intervention.
– Insufficient healthcare facilities or supplies when urgent medical attention is required.
– Geographic barriers that can prevent women from reaching health centers, such as Ethiopia’s mountainous terrain necessitating long walks.
– Social barriers, including assumptions that home births are safe or misconceptions about the safety of health centers.
At Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia, our team works to remove these barriers preventing women from accessing care.
How is Obstetric Fistula Treated?
The Hamlin network operates six dedicated fistula hospitals across Ethiopia – the main hospital in Addis Ababa and regional hospitals in Bahir Dar, Mekele, Yirgalem, Harar and Metu.
Hamlin is globally renowned for its fistula treatment and surgeons from around the world visit to train in best practice fistula-repair surgery. Developed by Dr Catherine Hamlin, this pioneering technique is recognized by leading global organizations.
In most cases, obstetric fistulas can be repaired with a single life-changing surgery, but for some women who have suffered for years, more complex treatment may be necessary.
At Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia, women receive life-changing treatment free of charge, thanks to a global community dedicated to eradicating fistula.
Click here to read more about Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia’s Treatment Program.
How is Obstetric Fistula Prevented?
The best solution to eradicate obstetric fistula injuries is to prevent them entirely.
Drs. Reg and Catherine Hamlin initially aimed to train midwives for clean, safe births. In 2007, Dr. Catherine Hamlin returned to this vision with the establishment of the Hamlin College of Midwives.
Hamlin Midwives graduate after a four-year BSc in Midwifery and are deployed to remote areas to provide timely and quality maternal healthcare. Over 50% of Ethiopian women still give birth at home without medical assistance, making timely access to care critical in preventing obstetric fistulas.
Click here to read more about Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia’s Prevention Program.
Agsegedech’s Story
“After the fistula-repair treatment my life has been transformed. I can go anywhere I want, move freely and do anything. It is incomparable with those 20 years. Thanks to Emaye (Dr Catherine Hamlin) and the Hamlin doctors I am better now… you have changed my life.” – Agsegedech
Watch this video of Agsegedech, explaining her heartbreaking story from the tragedy of a stillbirth and fistula to hope at Hamlin.