Addis-Abeba – 5 au 11 octobre 2026
Journal de bord de Pili Mbwana

Jour 1

Arrived in Addis Ababa, ready for a memorable and transformative week.

This week takes me to Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia, in specialized training in posterior perineal repair, organized by Afya Geneva

As an obstetrician and gynecologist and fistula surgeon from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, being here is more than an opportunity to refine a surgical technique. It is an opportunity to learn from a place deeply connected to the history and advancement of fistula surgery and care in Africa.

I am here not only to learn how we repair, but also how we care; the protocols, the patient journey, the multidisciplinary approach, and the systems that make fistula care truly transformative.

And beyond the operating theatre, I hope this week will inspire ideas i can carry back home. Ways of strengthening care, raising awareness and building meaningful initiative and apply on the work I have already begun in raising awareness about sexual dysfunction and advancing sexual medicine. Creating spaces where women can speak openly about conditions that affect their bodies, intimacy, relationships, and quality of life.

A week of learning, reflection, and inspiration begins.
And I am ready to see where it leads.

Jour 2

Day 2 started with a warm welcome and a Hamlin team was clearly well prepared and organized. The cases had been thoughtfully selected, giving us a variety of experiences and more opportunities to learn.

I also had a new trainer, which mean new tips and “hacks” in examining patients. Those simple things you pick up from someone who has done this many times.

But what impressed me most was the patients themselves. They were well informed about their condition, which made it much easier to talk, examine and arrive at a diagnosis

A good welcome, new lessons, and great patients.

Day 2 was already a good sign that this is going to be a very good week.

Jour 3

Day 3 started well. We arrived on time and went straight to the theatre, as usual, the Hamlin team was already prepared and organized. The patients were on the table and the day was ready to begin.

One thing that fascinated me today was how much the scrub nurse does in the theatre. From preparing the instruments, dressing the surgeon, positioning, cleaning and draping the patient, to helping with the post-operative process, they seem to do almost everything in theatre except the actual operation. A different way of working, and definitely something to learn from.

The surgeries went well, and of course, I went back to the hotel with a few more lessons than I arrived with.

After a full day in theatre, we decided not to end the day just yet. We stepped outside with my fellow trainee and took an evening walk through Addis Ababa, just a little time to breathe, talk, and enjoy the city beyond the walls of Hamlin.

Day 3, and I can already feel the transformation. I’m looking forward to what the rest of the week will teach me.

Jour 4

Today, something happened in theatre that touched me in an unexpected way.

There was an elderly woman quietly moving around the theatre, helping wherever she could. She was active, humble, and incredibly kind. At one point, she even brought me a chair so I could sit comfortably during the surgery. So I became curious and asked one of Ethiopian doctors about her.

Her name was Mamitu Gashe, A former patient who became a surgeon, with a remarkable connection to the Hamlin story.

The more I learned about her, the more I found myself thinking about the contrast between what she has achieved and how simply she carries herself. There was no sense of importance—just a woman quietly helping wherever she was needed.

Today, Mamitu humbled me—not by her achievement, but by her humility.

Maybe some lessons are not taught in the theatre. Some are simply witnessed.
Four days in, and I am beginning to realize that this week has much more to teach me than surgery.

Jour 5

Day 5 was a day of mixed emotions—accomplishment, gratitude, and the realization that a journey that started almost a year ago was finally coming to an end.

The morning started in theatre with my final surgery. The surgery went well, and after lunch, we sat for our post-test. Then came the moment of truth: feedback from our trainers.

The feedback was encouraging. My trainers were pleased with my progress in surgical technique and felt I was ready to work independently. But what made me equally proud was the recognition of my approach to patients and my commitment to reminding fellow surgeons that our goal is not only to repair incontinence, but also to preserve normal sexual function.

In between a busy schedule, I managed to pick a few flowers around the hospital and make a small bouquet for the theatre nurses. Their compassion and the incredible work they do had touched me throughout the week, and I wanted to show my gratitude in a small way. The joy on the nurse in charge’s face when I handed it to her made the gesture worthwhile.

Then came the certification—a moment that made me reflect on how far I had come. From Bugando in Mwanza, to Gitega in Burundi, to Panzi in the DRC, and finally Hamlin in Ethiopia, each place had added something to this journey. A proud moment, and a reminder of the responsibility that comes with it.

The evening ended with a beautiful gala dinner at Yod Abyssinia, shared by the Afya Geneva and Hamlin teams. The atmosphere was so lovely that, for a moment, I didn’t want the evening to end. I returned to the hotel exhausted, with too many feelings to put into words—and too tired to write.

Some days teach you. Some days change you. And some days remind you how far you’ve come. Day 5 was all three.

Jour 6

And just like that, my week at Hamlin came to an end.
Day 6 was a half-day, with a major round to visit the patients we had operated on throughout the week. Unfortunately, with my flight at 3 PM and the travel time between the hotel, Hamlin, and the airport, I couldn’t manage to join the round before leaving

With the few hours I had before departure, I managed to pick up a few little souvenirs from Ethiopia for my family from the nearby shops around the hotel.”
I came here to learn surgical techniques, but I am leaving with so much more—new lessons, meaningful connections, inspiration, and memories I will carry home with me.

– Thank you, AFYA Geneva.
– Thank you, Hamlin.
– Thank you, Addis Ababa.

And now, it’s time to say goodbye—not only to Hamlin, but also to you who have been following my little journal throughout this week.

Thank you for coming along on this journey with me.