A fistula is an injury that can result from a prolonged, obstructed labour. The pressure of the unborn baby’s head against the mother's pelvis can damage her urinary system, causing her to leak waste body fluids uncontrollably. The baby is often still-born and, unless treated with a simple operation, the mother is left incontinent for life. Here at Ethiopiaid, we recognise the importance of offering a service to restore health and dignity to women who've been afflicted by this terrible problem. The Fistula Hospital is currently increasing its capacity for maternal health care in rural areas. Prevention is better than cure and is becoming an increasingly important part of the Hospital's work. Complications during pregnancy and childbirth are widespread in Ethiopia and the need for midwives has never been greater. With financial assistance from Ethiopiaid, the Fistula Hospital have recently constructed a midwifery college. The School of Midwifery is now preparing for the intake of the second year of students. The School needs to prepare accommodation facilities for this to be possible. They have part of the funds required but not the full amount and could prepare a proposal to cover this. Options could be: 1) one accommodation building for 12 students, which would cost approximately £25,000. 2) a toilet and shower block as well as adjoining covered walkways and landscaping, which would cost approximately £37,500. The Fistula hospital is also planning to upgrade some of the facilities in the main kitchen at the hospital. This will include new bench tops and cupboards, a new cooker (gas for use when power fails) and a new exhaust fan system to remove steam and cooking fumes. Cost approximately £6,500. We want to contribute to expanding the work of the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in order to help more women receive treatment throughout Ethiopia. The ordeal that fistula victims go through is truly heart-breaking. Please help us to help by donating what you can today.