“We will tell the good news to everyone in need… that there are doctors in Addis that bring happiness to our life.”

Kokebe lives in the central Oromiya region of Ethiopia. When it was time for her to give birth she laboured for three days at home, before her husband and father took her to the nearest hospital.

But it was too late. Kokebe’s baby was stillborn and she had sustained a terrible obstetric fistula injury, leaving her incontinent.

Kokebe returned home and hid away in grief and shame for 10 long years.

The road to recovery

Thanks to generous donors like you, the Hamlin Patient Identification team were able to reach Kokebe’s community. They told her that free treatment was available, and she made her way to the Yirgalem Fistula Hospital. Due to the severity of her injuries, she was transported to the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital for treatment.

I faced this devastating problem [fistula] and started living with stress and poverty. I never knew there was a cure.

Kokebe

At first, Kokebe couldn’t believe that a different life was possible. But when she saw other patients being treated for their injuries, she began to hope that she too might be cured.

They [the staff] treated us nicely. They gave us soap, pyjamas and blankets and served nice foods.

Sharing the good news

Kokebe has now become a supporter of Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia. When she was ready to leave hospital, she told us:

Now I am cured and about to go home. We will tell the good news to everyone in need… that there are doctors in Addis that bring happiness to our life.

Your support is the reason that Kokebe has good news to share. If you are able to make a donation today, you will ensure that when the next woman arrives at a Hamlin Hospital, she receives the same warm loving welcome as Kokebe.