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Your donation will help restore the health and dignity of women suffering from devastating obstetric fistula injuries so they can regain their lives.
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Dr Catherine Hamlin believed obstetric fistula could be eradicated in Ethiopia.
You can help make that a reality.
After getting married, Semehal suffered two miscarriages before sustaining an obstetric fistula during the birth of her third child.
Fortunately, she was found by one of Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia's Patient Identification Officers, who go in search of women living with untreated childbirth injuries. Semehal was referred to Hamlin's Mekele Fistula Hospital, where she received free treatment, rehabilitation support, and skills training. She also received financial assistance to start her own small business.
“The hospital became my second home, offering me hope for recovery and a chance to start anew. The care and compassion were beyond my imagination. I cannot express my joy at being cured.”
With your support, we can:
- find women like Semehal,
- connect them to life-changing treatment and rehabilitation support,
- reduce stigma and shame through community education activities, and
- help prevent future childbirth injuries by training new midwives and strengthening rural maternal healthcare services.
Your generosity helps carry Catherine’s vision forward — restoring health and dignity, and bringing a fistula-free Ethiopia within reach.
Living with obstetric fistula was incredibly challenging. I avoided visitors because of fear of the odour and the embarrassment. I often cried and felt overwhelmed with shame.
- Semehal
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.