Project Zero

Going from door-to-door, woreda (district) by woreda, our goal is to find and treat every woman in Ethiopia living with obstetric fistula and do all in our power to prevent childbirth injuries in the future.

An estimated 30,000 women in Ethiopia are living with obstetric fistula, with an additional 1,000 cases occurring every year. It is estimated that it could take more than five decades to find and treat every case.

Hamlin-trained health workers and patient identification officers will undertake community outreach and household surveys in all 1,000 Woredas (or districts) of Ethiopia to identify women living with fistula and transfer them for immediate treatment at one of Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia’s six hospitals. Women with long-term injuries will also be able to access the rehabilitation and reintegration services offered at Desta Mender.

To improve maternal healthcare and outcomes for women, Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia will expand its prevention program, with the goal of establishing a midwifery clinic in every Woreda, staffed by Hamlin-trained midwives. The Hamlin College of Midwives' curriculum meets the stringent standards of the International Confederation of Midwives, and the College will play an important role in training new midwives for Woredas around the country.

A country-wide community education campaign will raise awareness on safe delivery methods, obstetric fistula and other birth injuries, and the treatment options available to women. We will highlight the importance of seeking professional medical care during pregnancy, labor, and after birth. Training will also be given to existing healthcare professionals, so that they have a deeper understanding of birth injuries and can advise their patients of treatment options.