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Representatives of Hamlin Fistula Australia Limited (HFA), Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia (HFE) and Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia (Australia) Limited are currently in discussions to clarify the relationship between HFE and HFA.
As these discussions are of a sensitive nature, the three parties involved have agreed not to make public statements or comments regarding these discussions until we are able to update supporters. We expect to be able to issue an update by the end of May 2013.
8 April 2013.
Hamlin Fistula Australia Limited (HFA) was established by Dr Catherine Hamlin, her family and friends in 1996. The generosity of donors has enabled HFA to provide funds for the massive expansion in the work of the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital including the establishment of regional centres and the creation of the Hamlin College of Midwives.
There are funds similar to HFA in New Zealand, UK, USA, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden and Japan.
From 1996 until mid 2012 HFA was the authorised representative in Australia of Dr Hamlin, Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia (HFE) and the Hamlin Fistula International Foundation (HFIF). In July 2012 Dr Hamlin established a new company in Australia called Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia (Australia) Limited (HFEA) and this new company now represents Dr Hamlin, HFE and HFIF in Australia.
Dr Hamlin has written to the members of HFA that “HFE has now resolved that it shall not accept from HFA any donations received by HFA on and from 1 January 2013”.
Donations received by HFA from the beginning of 2013 will be used to support the core purposes of HFA and the Hamlin Fistula Relief and Aid Fund which are to provide funding for the treatment and prevention of obstetric fistulas suffered by women in developing countries and to raise awareness of this distressing condition.
Donations to HFA are allowable deductions for Australian income tax purposes.
The Directors of HFA have approved a schedule of payments to provide further grants to HFE of more that $23 million in future years.
Please refer to the Statement at the top of this web site. Until these discussions are satisfactorily resolved, donations received by HFA from the start of 2013 will not be used to make payments to HFE. Other funds held by HFA will be used for these payments to HFE.
Payments (in US dollars) made by HFA for HFE since July 2011 include:
| 12 Feb 2013 |
77,099.98 |
| 08 Jan 2013 |
1,044,200.00 |
| 28 Dec 2012 |
516,100.13 |
| 17 Sep 2012 |
556,177.30 |
| 04 Sep 2012 |
60,850.00 |
| 05 Jun 2012 |
500,000.00 |
| 08 May 2012 |
99,595.04 |
| 03 Apr 2012 |
41,590.05 |
| 03 Apr 2012 |
8,671.37 |
| 03 Apr 2012 |
36,497.92 |
| 10 Feb 2012 |
10,274.00 |
| 06 Jan 2012 |
175,590.79 |
| 06 Jan 2012 |
151,625.64 |
| 03 Jan 2012 |
18,322.13 |
| 23 Dec 2011 |
64,053.00 |
| 14 Dec 2011 |
18,084.00 |
| 01 Dec 2011 |
62,186.66 |
| 01 Dec 2011 |
58,472.46 |
| 23 Nov 2011 |
17,554.00 |
| 03 Nov 2011 |
10,049.90 |
| 05 Oct 2011 |
17,822.00 |
| 19 Sep 2011 |
26,005.29 |
| 04 Aug 2011 |
162,074.88 |
| 04 Aug 2011 |
250,256.31 |
| 29 Jul 2011 |
38,438.47 |
| 26 Jul 2011 |
442,450.16 |
Dr Catherine Hamlin, Mr Richard Hamlin and other trustees appointed by them control Hamlin Fistula International Foundation (HFIF), a Swiss foundation which has assets totaling $11 million (12.1 million Swiss francs).
To see a copy of the HFIF 2011 balance sheet click HERE.
The other Hamlin international partners in NZ, UK, USA, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden and Japan also hold money for Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia.
In mid 2011 AusAID and HFA signed a contract for Australian Government funding for 3 years (2011–2013) plus the possibility for an additional 2 years (2014–2015) subject to a midterm review. The whole of this money is for use by HFE and none is for HFA. On 9 August 2012 Dr Hamlin wrote to AusAID saying the Trustees of HFE “have resolved not to call on the remainder of the current tranche of AusAID funding, nor to call on future tranches in the current AusAID contract with Hamlin Fistula Australia”.
In accordance with the request of the Trustees of HFE, HFA and AusAID have terminated the contract for the following grants from AusAID:
| Balance owing from 2011 |
$265,000 |
| Approved grant for 2012 |
$1,091,348 |
| Approved grant for 2013 |
$1,079,078 |
| Year 4 (subject to confirmation) |
$1,121,532 |
| Year 5 (subject to confirmation) |
$1,159,058 |
It seems odd HFE does not wish to receive $4 million in Australian government money.
To see a copy of Dr Hamlin’s letter click HERE.
Since 1996 HFA has been working with people of all religions and of no religion to finance the work of Dr Catherine Hamlin. HFA has never suggested any change to this long standing arrangement.
The current relationship difficulties between HFA and Dr Hamlin exist because of the removal, in early 2012, of the majority of the Trustees of Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia and all the senior executive personnel of the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital and the Hamlin College of Midwives. The Directors of HFA believed they had an obligation to notify HFA supporters about these very significant matters so issued a Statement on 27 March 2012.
To see the Statement click HERE.
To learn more about the work of Dr Hamlin in Ethiopia go to www.hamlinfistula.org |
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