The Hospital by the River: A Story of Hope

Australian gynaecologists Catherine and Reg Hamlin arrived in Addis Ababa in 1959 to establish a midwifery school. Over 30 years later, Catherine is still there, running one of the world's most outstanding medical programs. Through this work thousands of Ethiopian women have returned to a normal existence after living as outcasts, often for more than half their lives. These women endured obstructed labours. As a result of obstructed labour not only does the baby die, but the woman's bladder, vagina or rectum is torn. These tears are called fistulas, and the result is a constant leaking from either the bladder or rectum into the vagina. Soiled and helpless, the women are abandoned by their husbands and often left to beg, or scavenge. The Hamlins dedicated their lives to pioneering new surgery and opening their own fistula hospital in 1974. Now, Catherine writes about their extraordinary lives and the stories of hope and courage that surround their hospital. Her book is a testament to the power of healing, and reveals the hidden suffering of millions of women in developing countries.