Catherine Hamlin died: Doctor saved thousands of women’s lives after traumatic births in Ethiopia 

Hero Australian doctor Catherine Hamlin who saved thousands of women’s lives after traumatic births in Ethiopia dies aged 96

  • World-renowned Australian doctor and humanitarian Catherine Hamlin has died
  • She and her husband founded clinics giving free obstetric fistula repair surgery
  • Hamlins spent 61 years living in Ethiopia and providing free treatment to women
  • Over 60,000 Ethiopian women received life-changing care at Hamlins’ clinics 

World-renowned Australian doctor and humanitarian Catherine Hamlin has died at her home in Ethiopia.

She was 96.

The Sydney gynaecologist and her husband, Reginald Hamlin, co-founded clinics giving free obstetric fistula repair surgery, a condition caused by a difficult childbirth.

The Hamlins have spent the past 61 years living in Ethiopia and providing free treatment to women who were often ostracised following the horrific childbirth injury.

Australian obstetrician and nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize, Dr Catherine Hamlin, is seen with fistula patients in Ethiopia. She died on Wednesday 

More than 60,000 Ethiopian women have received the life-changing care at one of the Hamlins’ six clinics, overseen by more than 550 trained staff.

Through the Catherine Hamlin Fistula Foundation her legacy will live on, said the charity’s chair Julie White.

‘Catherine lived an incredible life having made an enormous difference to the lives and health of thousands upon thousands of women in Ethiopia,’ Ms White said.

Dr Hamlin is survived by her only son Richard and her four grandchildren.

She died at home in Addis Ababa on Wednesday.

Dr Catherine Hamlin is pictured among her patients in Ethiopia in a photo believed to have been taken in 2009

Dr Catherine Hamlin is pictured among her patients in Ethiopia in a photo believed to have been taken in 2009

Dr Catherine Hamlin (left) greeting Her Majesty The Queen (3rd left) with The Duke of Edingburgh (right) at Government House in Canberra in 2011

Dr Catherine Hamlin (left) greeting Her Majesty The Queen (3rd left) with The Duke of Edingburgh (right) at Government House in Canberra in 2011

 

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