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It is a very exciting time for the
Fistula Hospital. Many years have been spent simply operating on
the poor unfortunate women, but only in Addis. Now, at long last,
real progress is being made in putting facilities in the outlying
regions so that the women can be treated closer to home. The
latest Fistula Centre to be opened is Harar in the eastern and
predominantly Muslim area of Ethiopia.
Dr Hamlin said recently:
"We are embarking on the most extensive
development program since 1974. We want to be able to cure many more
fistula patients and to help this dreadful problem from occurring."
Five Outreach Centres were originally planned at Bahr Dar, Mekelle, Yirga Alem,
Harar and Metu. The first three were completed in the last three years, and Harar is the
fourth, leaving Metu yet to be started.
The positioning of these Outreach Centres has been strategic. They are well placed, geographically, around such a large country of 1¼ million square kilometres with a road system that makes it difficult for many patients to get to the main centre in Addis Ababa.
These photos give a brief overview of the centre and its
opening ceremony. Click on each picture to see a larger image.
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