Hope in Harar: young midwives making a difference
Last summer, despite the many challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, 24 young midwives graduated with a Batchelors degree from the Hamlin College of Midwives and prepared to start their careers across Ethiopia.
Almost 150 students have graduated from the college to date, and are deployed to government health centres close to their home towns across rural Ethiopia.
Sister Tizita, pictured, is one of these inspiring young people, and at just 24 is already making a huge difference to the lives of women in her remote community of Kurfa Chele in Ethiopia’s Harar region.
Three years into her first role she is now leading services in a small health centre and told us her training, including attending over 100 safe deliveries before graduating, has prepared her for this:
“The high quality of training we receive at the college and the exceptional clinical attachments on offer make Hamlin midwives confident professionals” she told us.
Every day as a Hamlin midwife is different
Every day as a Hamlin midwife is different and Sister Tizita often has to go above and beyond, even with limited resources.
“I remember a mother who came to me at the health centre late one night for her delivery and developed bleeding which we call post-partum haemorrhage. She needed to be referred to hospital immediately however at that time there was no ambulance or transport available quickly enough.” She told us.
“I was able to draw on all the skills I had learnt as a trainee midwife and implement all the necessary steps needed to save her life. Once her condition had stabilised, I accompanied her to the nearby hospital to support her recovery. Now both her and her baby are well and healthy. Whenever she sees me, she hugs me with love and tells me I saved her life. We became almost like family afterwards.” Tizita explained.
Hamlin supports the rural government health centre where Tizita is working with drugs and vital equipment, so that she is able to continue providing quality services for mothers and their newborns.
“When I was a first year student at the Hamlin college, I happened to meet with Dr Catherine Hamlin”, she told us. “She greeted me and my classmates warmly, asked us about our studies and told us how our profession is so very crucial to rural mothers to stop fistula. Ever since I have loved being a midwife, and I owe her the commitment and love I try to show mothers every day. She is my inspiration.”
Help us to support the next generation of midwives across Ethiopia including Harar region – donate today.
