UK members of parliament visit Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia
The team at Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia were delighted to welcome a delegation from the UK All Party Parliamentary Group for Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases to the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital as part of their recent study tour to Ethiopia.
The Hamlin team were honoured to welcome the cross-party UK parliamentary delegation, which included Baroness Helene Hayman, Lord Jonathan Oates, Patrick Grady MP, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP and James Sunderland MP, together with group coordinator Martha Varney.
Konjit Kassahun, Dean of the Hamlin College of Midwives and Head of Prevention, provided the group with an overview of Hamlin’s work for women across Ethiopia including our new Project Zero initiative, to end fistula in Ethiopia.
The delegation raised important questions and commented on the points of crossover between Hamlin’s work to improve women’s health in Ethiopia with initiatives to tackle neglected tropical diseases, which also have a devastating impact on women’s lives.
The group were particularly interested to learn about how Hamlin continues to delivery its work for women during times of crisis, for example our recent work to restore maternal health services for women in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia.
Surgeon Dr Biniyam joined the group to answer questions and lead a visit around the hospital to meet health professionals and learn more about our treatment and rehabilitation services.
The group also met with a patient who had recovered and was about to be discharged home, who shared her story of bravery.
Hamlin is working to raise awareness in the UK of the devastating impact of avoidable childbirth injuries in Ethiopia. The work of governments around the world, including the UK government through its aid commitments and Ending Preventable Deaths programme in Ethiopia are making a vital difference to changing the lives of women and girls.
