Mamitu Gashe
Mamitu Gashe | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1945 or 1946 (age 78–79)[1] |
| Nationality | Ethiopian |
| Occupation | Surgeon |
| Medical career | |
| Institutions | Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital |
| Sub-specialties | Obstetric fistula |
Mamitu Gashe is a Ethiopian surgeon who is a specialist in repairing obstetric fistula, and was named by the BBC in its 100 Women list of 2018.[2] She had decided to become an obstetric surgeon after almost dying during childbirth at 16.[3][4]in 1962.[1]
Suffering from obstetric fistula, Gashed was brought to the Princess Tsehai Hospital that offered free surgery for the condition.[5]
After receiving surgery, Gashe helped out by making beds and assisting Australian surgeon Reginald Hamlin, and joined the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, founded by Reginald Hamlin and his wife Catherine Hamlin in 1974.[6]. Initially, she would hand him the requested medical implements. After a couple of years she started suturing and then moved on to undertake surgery. Hamlin trained her how to repair fistulas, and she is now regarded as one of the institution's leading fistula surgeons, often training new post-graduate doctors.[7][8][9] The work of Reginald and Catherine Hamlin, and Mamitu Gashe, was recognised by the Royal College of Surgeons of England with the award of its Gold Medal.[10]
The Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital often uses medical staff without formal qualifications.[11] In 2007, the President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England called Gashe "the forerunner of the non-medically qualified practitioner."[12]
References
- ^ a b Mamitu: One of BBC’s 100 Women in 2018 Catherine Hamlin Fistula Foundation, hamlin.org.au, 30 January 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019
- ^ "BBC 100 Women 2018: Who is on the list?". 2018-11-19. Retrieved 2019-07-09.
- ^ "I trained to be a surgeon when I couldn't read or write". BBC. Retrieved 2019-07-08.
- ^ Wall, L. Lewis (2018). Tears for My Sisters: The Tragedy of Obstetric Fistula. Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-1421424187.
- ^ "Making a Contribution to the Fistula Hospital for Over 50 Years [opinion]". allafrica.com. 2014-08-23 – via NewsBank. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
- ^ Kristof, Nicholas (2005-06-12). "The Illiterate Surgeon". New York Times. Retrieved 2019-07-08.
- ^ Barrowclough, Nikki (2014-10-10). "Catherine Hamlin: Ethiopia's miracle worker". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2019-07-08.
- ^ Henry, J. A. (January 2015). "Essential Surgery: The Way Forward". World Journal of Surgery. 39 (4): 822–832. doi:10.1007/s00268-014-2937-9. PMID 25566979.
- ^ Hancock, Brian (2005). First Steps in Vesico-Vaginal Fistula Repair (PDF). The Royal Society of Medicine Press Ltd. p. 58. ISBN 1-85315-611-6.
- ^ "Obituary: Reginald Hamlin". The Times. 1993-08-14. Retrieved 2019-07-12.
- ^ Kristof, Nicholas; WuDunn, Sheryl (2010). Half The Sky: How to Change the World. Hachette UK. ISBN 978-0748117758.
- ^ Ribeiro, Bernard (2007). "President's Letter - Africa Revisited". Ann R Coll Surg Engl (Suppl). 89: 46. doi:10.1308/147363507X173959.
External Links
- Healing and Hope: Inside the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital Al Jazeera documentary, 2011.
- I trained to be a surgeon when I couldn’t read or write BBC Interview with Mamitu Gashe, 16 May 2019
- Mamitu: One of BBC’s 100 Women in 2018 Catherine Hamlin Fistula Foundation profile, 30 January 2019.