Ever since she was a child, Mufriyat had dreamed of becoming a midwife. After high school, she heard about an entrance exam she could sit to be accepted into the Hamlin College of Midwives. She passed the test and was offered a place to study for her BSc degree in Midwifery.

“As a child, I dreamed of becoming a midwife and I feel fortunate that my childhood dream has come true”

Mufriyat wasn’t prepared for how challenging it would be to leave home and start her studies in a new environment.

“During my time at College, I experienced both challenges and growth. In my first year, I struggled with the cold and homesickness, but I coped with the help of a friend from elementary school. Once I settled in, the learning process became smoother.”

Hamlin midwives are trained to the standards of the International Confederation of Midwives, including the precondition that students conduct a minimum of 40 deliveries before they graduate.

“The knowledge and skills I gained were invaluable. Without them, I wouldn’t have known how to help mothers. When I started working at the Onga health center, I felt prepared to assist mothers in the community. I am proud to be a Hamlin graduate and have performed fifty-three deliveries as a student.”

The Onga midwifery clinic

Since graduating from the Hamlin College of Midwives in 2023, Mufriyat has been working at the Onga midwifery clinic in Ale Woreda (district). Ale Woreda was the first district to implement a Project Zero pilot, so many improvements have been to the infrastructure around the centre to make it more accessible to women.

Mufriyat’s first task was to identify areas lacking hygiene and comfort and to make improvements to the facilities. Together with another Hamlin midwife, she held educational sessions in remote kebeles (neighbourhoods) about the potential dangers of home births and the importance of good ante and postnatal care.

She raises awareness among health workers to refer pregnant women as early as possible to prevent complications during birth. As a result, she has seen an increase in the number of women arriving at the clinic for antenatal care. Many come early to stay in the maternity waiting room until they go into labour.

The Onga midwifery clinic receives support from Hamlin’s Metu Fistula Hospital including medical supplies and equipment. Mufriyat also has a Hamlin Midwife Mentor which keeps her training up-to-date and makes her feel supported.

Mufriyat’s most challenging case

One of her most challenging cases occurred not long after she started practicing at the Onga midwifery clinic. A woman with eclampsia arrived, unconscious, after experiencing seizures at home and Mufriyat initially assumed she was in labour.

However, when the woman didn’t respond to treatment, Mufriyat quickly recognised her condition. Her blood pressure was very high. It was Mufriyat’s first experience of looking after someone having a seizure, and fortunately an experienced nurse was available to help her administer magnesium and fluids.

Mufriyat had already organised an ambulance to transport another woman in prolonged labour to hospital so she was able to send the eclamptic patient with her. She was very relieved when she heard later that both of her patients and their babies were in good health.

A message from Mufriyat

Mufriyat is extremely grateful for the support of donors like you and has this message she wanted us to share:

“Thank you for your commitment to changing the lives of mothers and children. I urge you to continue to support the training and deployment of Hamlin Midwives in rural communities where healthcare is less accessible. This will enhance the country’s health system, particularly in maternity and child health.”

Your donations help to train midwives like Mufriyat in the Hamlin College of Midwives, which is the best way to ensuring a future free of preventable childbirth injuries like obstetric fistula. Will you donate today and help more women like Mufriyat and the women she cares for?