Rahmete was 20 years old happily pregnant with her first child and filled with excitement. She was about to start a family with her husband.
When it was time for her baby to come, Rahmete realised something was very wrong. She laboured for three agonising days at home until she was too exhausted to go on. However, Rahmete lived in a remote rural village in Oromia, a day’s walk from her nearest hospital.
There was no nearby medical team to help her. In rural regions like Rahmete’s, maternal healthcare is often not available. And travel is difficult in much of the area, making reaching a clinic or hospital extremely challenging.
Rahmete was supported by her husband to make the long journey to the nearest medical clinic. With the help of staff, she finally delivered her baby – but it was too late.
A time of heartbreak
Rahmete was heartbroken to discover that her baby had died during the birth. Her heartache didn’t end there. Rahmete also suffered an obstetric fistula injury that left her unable to control her urine. She was confused, scared and
completely devastated. She returned home to her village incontinent and struggling.
Ashamed of his wife’s condition, Rahmete’s husband left her. Sadly, her parents had passed away and her sister didn’t have the financial means to support her. For years she lived in hopelessness and isolation, grieving the loss of her baby and struggling to pay rent on her own.
Until the day she heard about Hamlin’s Metu Fistula Hospital on a local radio station.
Welcomed with love
At the Hospital, surgeon Dr Zehara and her team welcomed Rahmete with kindness, love, compassion and care – things she hadn’t experienced in a long time. She received a Comfort Pack, clean clothes, nutritious meals and life-changing surgery that not only repaired the hole in her bladder, but also restored her dignity and gave Rahmete her life back. And at no cost to her.
Rahmete now lives happily in Metu town, supporting herself by selling homemade ‘Injera’ (the traditional Ethiopian flatbread) from her home.
“Now I am leading a happy life free from suffering. I’ve started living like a woman again”
Rahmete
Rahmete’s treatment and care was made possible thanks to the generosity of Hamlin supporters. You can help a women like Rahmete by donating today.
