“I wished to be never born as a woman.”
Shared by a woman in the programme who has suffered from obstretic fistula.
Desta Mender stands for “Village of Joy”. The rehabilitation and re-integration centre for women with long-term injuries was founded by the Australian surgeon and pioneer in this field, Dr. Catherine Hamlin (1924 – 2020).
The humanitarian always believed that treating a fistula patient is not just about treating a hole in the bladder, but rather treating the whole women with love and care. Obstretic fistula predominantly occurs when giving birth to a child. Due to obstructed labour, an abnormal hole forms between the birth canal and urinary tract or rectum, often resulting in incontinence. In many cases, the baby does not survive the prolonged labour. Causes of obstretic fistula are a lack of access to healthcare during and after pregnancy, early marriage, or the harmful practice of female genital mutilation. If it is not treated, the condition can lead to death in the worst case. On top of losing her baby, a woman may face social exclusion in their community and suffer mentally.
For her outstanding efforts in eliminating obstretic fistula in Ethiopia, Dr. Hamlin was nominated twice for the Peace Nobel Prize and received the Ethiopian citizenship from Meles Zenawi, a former Ethiopian president and prime minister. She and her husband, Dr. Reg Hamlin, who passed away in 1993, set up the Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia Foundation. The foundation encompasses nowadays five regional hospitals, a college for midwives, over 90 supported midwifery clinics, and the Hamlin Rehabilitation and Reintegration Centre Desta Mender. The foundation has helped more than 70,000 women so far.
The women at Desta Mender receive psychological support and vocational training. For many of them, it is the first time to discover a supportive community. During a two-months programme, the women learn new skills such as farming, catering, or handicraft. Thus, they are equipped to earn money and to build up a life on their own. Also, seed funding is provided to kickstart the womens’ businesses. Tigist Aman, the manager of the rehabilitation programme, emphasized: “Vocational training is key for re-integration in the communities after a traumatic experience.“
On a sunny Saturday morning, a group of 15 people gathered to learn more about the initiative and the brave women of Desta Mender. The visit from Addis Ababa was organized by Bezawit Fisseha, a young female who felt that “lending a hand to support each other should not be an exceptional thing”, especially during the month of March where the International Women’s Day is celebrated worldwide. In cooperation with Addis Powerhouse and Birqe Dignity Buckets, donations for care products such as soap, body lotion, hair oil, combs, and diapers were collected and brought to the rehabilitation centre.
After an introduction to the project, we were welcomed with bread and coffee, a generous custom in Ethiopia. A group of women who had arrived just four days ago told us they were surprised by the calmness they experienced, despite being on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital. Later, we were given a tour of Desta Mender, where we visited the sewing training room, the kitchen, and a shop offering beautiful handcrafted items made by the women.
What I learned is that obstretic fistula is a condition often shrouded in silence, leading to stigma for affected women. However, those engaged in rehabilitation programs have the opportunity to raise awareness and prevent further harm in their communities. If you want to learn more or to make a donation, visit the website of the Catherine Hamlin Fistula Foundation.
- Photo credit of Dr. Catherine Hamlin’s portrait: Courtesy of Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia
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