News Archive - November 2002

Royal College of Surgeons Award

Dr Hamlin wrote:
"... recently, I was greatly honoured to have been made a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. I had tended to keep this secret, as I was embarrassed to receive something I felt I did not deserve. However the College in England was determined I should come in person to receive this Award. The ceremony was held at the Royal College. Others, of course were being honoured too. It was a lovely occasion, with all the pomp and ceremony that only the English can turn on so well!"

Mercy Ships
There are two "hospital" ships (and soon to be three), working mainly on the western coast of Africa. The ships are fitted out expressly to help people in poorer countries where medical care is lacking.

They dock at various developing countries that have known tragedy and disasters, such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Benin etc. An expansion of their activities is planned. The ships are equipped with operating theatres, wards and accommodation for staff. It is an independent Christian enterprise.

They have, until this year, done mainly done facial surgery, eyes, hare lips and cleft palates and the removal of benign tumours that are disfiguring.

Now the Mercy Ships are adding Vesico Vaginal Fistula surgery to their surgical work. The Addis Ababa Fistual Hospital is assisting them to do this. A few months ago Dr Biruk, from the Fistula Hospital, joined one of the ships for a few weeks, to help and to teach. Also, Sister Tenadem who is a senior nurse in charge of our operating theatre, was teaching and assisting Dr Biruk.

The patients have their operation on board ship and a small ward is prepared to nurse them. Then they are transferred to a ward on shore that is specially prepared for them.

There are plans to develop and expand this area of fistula surgery.

Dr Browning engaged to marry in March 2003

The Australian doctor on staff Dr Andrew Browning is to marry Stephanie Hall. Stephanie is also from Sydney Australia and has been teaching at a school in Addis Ababa. Dr Browning has been a great asset to the surgical team and recently went to India with other members from the Fistula Hospital to teach fistula surgical techniques to doctors in India and to operate on fistula patients there.

More outreach plans
The visits of medical teams from the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital to various outlying areas and adjoining underdeveloped countries has proved to be successful in many ways. Patients have been cured of their fistula problem, and local doctors and nurses have had the opportunity to learn the techniques of fistula surgery. As well some of the hospitals in the centres that have been visited, have decided to establish a "fistula ward" to treat other patients, and to have the necessary equipment installed. The Fistula Hospital is assisting with this, in helping to obtain the equipment and to provide ongoing training for the local doctors and nurses.

There have been recent medical trips to Chad and to India. The cost of each of these "safaris" is about $A10,000.

Official Opening of the Rural Village
The village, now called "Desta Mender" meaning a place of joy, is to be officially opened on Tuesday 21st January 2003. It is expected that the Prime Minister of Ethiopia will perform the Opening and that dignitaries from all over the world will attend.

HRH Princess Ann visits the Hospital
In October, Princess Ann, who is the Patron for the Save the Children Fund, was attending a world meeting of executives of that fund, being held in Addis Ababa.

The Princess has had an ongoing interest in the work of the Fistula Hospital and took the opportunity to visit and encourage the staff and the patients at the Hospital.