A fundraising coffee morning will take place this weekend in NUI Galway’s Institute for Lifecourse and Society to raise funds for a charity which works to provide safe obstetric facilities to women in Ethiopia.
Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia was founded in 1974 by obstetricians Catherine and Reg Hamlin to provide surgical repair for Ethiopian women affected by the childbirth injury, fistula.
So far the charity has provided free treatment to more than 43,000 women. It runs six hospitals, a rehabilitation centre, and the Hamlin College of Midwives.
Maternal health in Ethiopia is a huge challenge. The maternal mortality ratio is one of the highest in the world with some 650 women dying for every 100,000 live births. Hamlin Fistula not only treats childbirth injuries but also has a strong prevention strategy to work towards eradicating obstetric fistula. The organisation trains midwives and partners with the Ethiopian government to place Hamlin midwives in rural health centres.
The coffee morning will take place on Saturday December 5 from 11am to 12.30pm in the ILAS building at NUI Galway’s Dangan campus. Food at the event will be provided by the Gourmet Tart Company, Morton’s of Salthill, and the Galway Cakery. There will also be a raffle with lots of excellent prizes donated by city businesses.
The event is organised by Sarah Brady in conjunction with NUI Galway’s Global Women’s Studies Department.
