Sending warmth and comfort to Ethiopia
The colourful blankets that all patients at Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia’s hospitals are given on their arrival have come to be a symbol of the warmth and comfort of care that women receive at Hamlin.
But did you know that they are nearly all knitted by dedicated knitters from across the UK?
Communities of knitters, from Knit and Knatter groups, Inner Wheel, the Women’s Institute, Soroptimist Clubs and Church groups come together throughout the year to make colourful square blankets, before they become treasured items for patients at Hamlin hospitals.
Here in the UK, blankets are collected on specific weeks during the year at Hamlin Fistula UK’s offices, before being packed up and shipped to our colleagues in Addis Ababa.
Our most recent blanket collection week in September saw a remarkable 1,003 blankets received and shipped to Ethiopia, which will be almost enough for half of the patients this year. We also received and sent 559 baby cardigans, 279 baby blankets and 312 baby hats!
The shipment has already been received in Ethiopia and looking ahead our next blanket collection week will be in February 2022 (dates tbc).
