Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia has launched new project in partnership with the United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA) across all six Hamlin fistula hospitals across Ethiopia focused on improving access to health services.
The project, which runs from 2019 – 2022, is focusing on re-invigorated patient identification in seven regions of Ethiopia of women with fistula, uterine prolapse, and will also include screening for cervical cancer (for referral to other facilities). Project work will focus on enhancing the capacity of partner health facilities in screening and diagnosing fistula, uterine prolapse and cervical cancer with the goal for 3,000 women to receive treatment across Hamlin’s centres.
Hamlin surgeons will provide training to middle-level government health workers in all regions, building capacity to present patients to Hamlin centres for treatment. Hamlin regional hospitals will also focus on building relationships with partners to increase case identification and referral.
The project launch meeting in Autumn 2019 – attended by regional health bureaus, local NGOs and associations, Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia fistula surgeons, centre heads and management team members from seven regions.
Speaking at the project launch meeting in Addis Ababa, Tesfaye Mamo, CEO of Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia explained “With this project, through massive and collaborative patient identification work, we will be able to address the unreached women across the nation towards meeting our goal of making obstetric fistula no longer a public health problem in Ethiopia.”
Representing UNFPA Ethiopia, Mrs Bethlehem Kebede, Program Specialist, Gender and Human Rights said “There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a fistula survivor enjoying coffee ceremony with her family and neighbours. UNFPA is so proud to jointly launch this programme with Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia, and I’m very hopeful that we will realise this project with the full support of all our stakeholders”.
