Make a gift to Chasing Zero
Your support will help accelerate one of Ethiopia’s most ambitious maternal health goals: ending obstetric fistula across Ethiopia, woreda (district) by woreda.
Secure Payment
Prefer to donate by bank transfer?
An ambitious maternal health goal
Obstetric fistula is devastating, but it is preventable and treatable.
Through Project Zero, Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia is working woreda (district) by woreda to find women still living with obstetric fistula, connect them to life-changing treatment, strengthen rural health clinics, help prevent future injuries, and educate communities about safe childbirth and available care.
When you join us in Chasing Zero, you help accelerate one of Ethiopia’s most ambitious maternal health goals: ending obstetric fistula.
A proven model. A national strategy.
With more than 65 years of experience, a network of six specialist hospitals, the Hamlin College of Midwives, Desta Mender and more than 90 Hamlin-supported midwifery clinics, Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia has the model and infrastructure to deliver lasting change.
Project Zero builds on this foundation through a national strategy of identification, prevention and education — finding women still living with untreated fistula, strengthening rural maternal healthcare, and equipping communities with the knowledge to make safer childbirth possible.
What your support makes possible
For 17 years, Ketinin lived with obstetric fistula, hiding at home, isolated by incontinence, grief and shame.
Since being found by a Project Zero team, her life has been transformed. Surgery has cured her injury, but also returned her dignity, confidence, and hope.
Your support can help us reach more women still in urgent need of treatment, support their recovery, and strengthen rural clinics so future childbirth injuries can be prevented.
We hope you will join us in Chasing Zero.
Your support has a long-term effect beyond the operating table. Every donation is a direct investment in a woman’s future – giving her health, dignity, and the chance to participate fully in society. This is tangible, transformative and life-changing impact that can be measured and celebrated.
— Dr Bitew Abebe, Genet’s fistula surgeon
Contact Us
We invite you to join us in supporting Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia and staff who are dedicating their lives to improving maternal healthcare in Ethiopia. Together we can reach our goal of eradicating fistula forever.
For a confidential discussion please contact:
Nigel Brooksby
Chair Board of Trustees
Catherine Hamlin Foundation International
Frequently Asked Questions
Catherine Hamlin Foundation International is a registered charity (Registered Charity Number 1217877) spearheads global fundraising initiatives to support Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia in eliminating obstetric fistula and other devastating childbirth injuries, while improving maternal health care through the Hamlin Model of Care. The organisation is dedicated to restoring dignity and empowering women to resume their vital roles within families and communities.
We work in collaboration with local fundraising partners who also raise funds for Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia, ensuring a united global effort to eradicate obstetric fistula and improve maternal health care.
Yes. Australian surgeon, Dr Catherine Hamlin was our Founder and Patron. Catherine passed away in March 2020 at age 96. We exist to fulfil her vision to eradicate fistula in Ethiopia. Forever.
You can read more about Catherine’s life’s work to eradicate obstetric fistula here.
For every £1 donated, 70 pence goes directly towards Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia’s programs for the treatment and prevention of obstetric fistula, 13 pence is necessary for accountability and administration and 17 pence is invested in fundraising efforts which allows us to help even more women in future years.
Our funding for Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia comes from voluntary contributions made by individual donors, foundations, businesses, community organisations and schools throughout the UK, Europe, Australia and other global partners. There is also local fundraising in Ethiopia. There is no government funding.
Catherine Hamlin Foundation International works hard to ensure the highest possible percentage of all donations received is spent on programs to treat and prevent obstetric fistula.
Yes, the financial accounts are independently audited annually.
To see all financial statements and other documents, please send us an email.
Yes, you definitely can, please send us an email and we will send you our account details for you to make your deposit. Thank you for your generosity.