A statue that marks the 60th anniversary of Catherine Hamlin arrival in Ethiopia was officially inaugurated today by PM Abiy Ahmed and first lady Zinash Tayachew. In recognizing the positive contribution of Dr. Catherine Hamlin, Prime Minister Abiy said: “Dr. Hamlin showed unconditional humanity when the ethnic division was everywhere in the country.” Dr. Hamlin also received a gold medal and certificate of recognition from Prime Minister.
Dr. Catherine and Reg Hamlin founded an organization called Hamlin fistula Ethiopia in 1974 after being confronted with the tragic situation of Ethiopian women suffering from obstetric fistulas.
Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia is dedicated to the eradication of obstetric fistulas through its preventative strategy of providing trained midwives in the rural regions of the country and now the organization oversees Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital-the world’s first fistula hospital, five regional hospitals providing health care to rural women, Hamlin College of Midwives, and Desta Mender – Rehabilitation training center for long-term patients.
