Ethiopia continues to face significant challenges in providing maternal and reproductive healthcare to rural and remote regions of the country. With 80% of the population living in these areas with little or no access to quality healthcare, more than 70% of women give birth without a doctor or nurse present. This often results in childbirth complications and devastating injuries like obstetric fistula, which are entirely preventable if skilled maternal healthcare professionals are available.
There are an estimated 31,000 Ethiopian women with untreated obstetric fistula injuries and an additional 3,000 new cases every year. Women are trapped in a life of pain, shame and isolation and are often hidden away, suffering alone for years or even decades, without knowing that help is available. The longer they live with these debilitating injuries, the more likely they are to develop additional complications such as the build-up of scar tissue, long-term infection and renal damage.
Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia’s immediate priority is to find and treat every last woman suffering from existing and new cases of obstetric fistula through its bold new Patient Identification and Treatment program. Hamlin’s team is increasing outreach efforts in rural and remote communities where women are likely to be living with untreated fistula. An important component of this program is to build awareness nationally, so a media and advertising campaign will support Hamlin’s outreach efforts.
Indicators of success:
- Women with pre-existing fistula injuries identified and transported to nearest Hamlin hospital for surgery to repair fistula injuries and rehabilitation
- Women have successful fistula repair surgery and secure their health and wellbeing
- Women return to their families and communities with their health and dignity restored and regain their roles in their families and communities
- Increased number of women presenting at Hamlin regional hospitals and rural clinics
- Increased national awareness of obstetric fistula and more widespread knowledge of how to seek treatment.
Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia’s monitoring and evaluation team will be responsible for tracking the program’s progress, providing feedback and documentation and preparing performance and financial reports for evidence-based decision-making by Hamlin’s Clinical and Management teams. A quarterly dashboard will also showcase results and ongoing progress.
There will be Case Stories and three reports produced during the campaign:
1. Weekly Status Report
2. Patient Identification Details form
3. Campaign Evaluation Report.
All funding areas have a gender dimension, even if it may not be immediately obvious.
Also known as Australian Women Donors Network (ABN: 28 141 197 471), Australians Investing in Women is a registered charity endorsed by the Australian Tax Office as a deductible gift recipient (DGR1) under a special listing, all donations over $2 are tax deductible.