Scan barcode
A review by aishaayoosh
A Woman of Firsts: The Midwife Who Built a Hospital and Changed the World by Edna Adan Ismail, Wendy Holden
5.0
I want to start by saying Edna Adan Ismail is a phenomenal woman. I don’t think this book has had the press it deserves at all!
Two things: It’s been nice reading about someone relatable and then reading about Somalia and Somaliland. As a Kenyan, I feel we do not know enough about our neighbours, yet quite a large percentage of our population is now Somali due to people seeking refuge from starvation and war.
Edna is the type of person who should be a role model for us, our girls and our boys. She became the first midwife in Somaliland after receiving a scholarship to train in Britain as a nurse and midwife.
Throughout the course of her life after returning to Somaliland, she has been involved in training new midwives, working for WHO, campaigning against FGM, politics, became the First Lady of Somaliland, kidnappings, arrests, thuggery, broken marriages, massive highs and lows and still continued to fulfil her dream of building a hospital in Hargeisa (with her own money, might I add).
She is relentless, kind, selfless, and all that she did for her people, usually came back full circle when she had nothing. Karma exists and she has shown it is beautiful and unexpected! Her father who was a doctor, was as selfless as Edna, always giving up what he had for the care of his patients, no doubt his daughter followed in his footsteps.
She studied abroad and could have easily stayed abroad, there is security, stability and an easy life but instead, she chose her people and her country. "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime". I truly believe that is how we in the diaspora can give back- that is the plan God Willing!
Her relationship with her parents was eerily relatable and funny. Her father let her accompany and help him at the hospital from the age of about 10. This went against cultural norms where a woman should be learning how to make a good home for when she gets married.
Her mother never understood, but her father treated her as an equal and always encouraged her to learn.
Pops, after teaching me the ropes let me drive his car unaccompanied, change a tyre, check the oil, run things in his business by 12 years old, so it is nice to read about parents that acknowledge their kids can do more (this was in Kenya, not England). My mum never understood my dad’s ways of raising us either, so it was nice reading about that dynamic. Edna is her father’s daughter, as am I – Loved it!!
Edna has a formidable character. Her work came first, her patients and her care for her family. Other things came secondary and that was sometimes her marriages. She married men that seemed like they were supportive of her career until she was running early morning or late-night missions for her patients, that is when the men showed their true feelings.
It must have been heart breaking having to pick up over and over again, but she did it. Her ambition and care for her work and people pulled her through. The legacy of her father pulled her through.
She has shown that it is nice to have a partner and company, but not the kind that hinders you. Your goals and aspirations are just as important as your partners. She has shown women do not need to step back for their husbands to shine. She put them in the trash with the utmost respect and moved on. Brilliant... I would do the same!
Now as for Somalia and Somaliland, and the marred relationship these two countries have had after colonisation is a tragedy. It was great to read and learn about what happened here and why. And most importantly how both countries are usually considered one, but they really aren’t.
I think if more East African’s picked up this book, we would be more sympathetic to the plight of the Somali & Somalilander people. The community is somewhat marginalised in Kenya due to the type of news that plagues them, piracy and terrorism usually.
Knowing more about their situation can only make us empathise and do better. Tell a Kenyan ‘Somali’ and they will say to you ‘Al-Shabab’ (the terrorist organisation) …it’s true and it’s shitty!
Read this book!!!
Two things: It’s been nice reading about someone relatable and then reading about Somalia and Somaliland. As a Kenyan, I feel we do not know enough about our neighbours, yet quite a large percentage of our population is now Somali due to people seeking refuge from starvation and war.
Edna is the type of person who should be a role model for us, our girls and our boys. She became the first midwife in Somaliland after receiving a scholarship to train in Britain as a nurse and midwife.
Throughout the course of her life after returning to Somaliland, she has been involved in training new midwives, working for WHO, campaigning against FGM, politics, became the First Lady of Somaliland, kidnappings, arrests, thuggery, broken marriages, massive highs and lows and still continued to fulfil her dream of building a hospital in Hargeisa (with her own money, might I add).
She is relentless, kind, selfless, and all that she did for her people, usually came back full circle when she had nothing. Karma exists and she has shown it is beautiful and unexpected! Her father who was a doctor, was as selfless as Edna, always giving up what he had for the care of his patients, no doubt his daughter followed in his footsteps.
She studied abroad and could have easily stayed abroad, there is security, stability and an easy life but instead, she chose her people and her country. "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime". I truly believe that is how we in the diaspora can give back- that is the plan God Willing!
Her relationship with her parents was eerily relatable and funny. Her father let her accompany and help him at the hospital from the age of about 10. This went against cultural norms where a woman should be learning how to make a good home for when she gets married.
Her mother never understood, but her father treated her as an equal and always encouraged her to learn.
Pops, after teaching me the ropes let me drive his car unaccompanied, change a tyre, check the oil, run things in his business by 12 years old, so it is nice to read about parents that acknowledge their kids can do more (this was in Kenya, not England). My mum never understood my dad’s ways of raising us either, so it was nice reading about that dynamic. Edna is her father’s daughter, as am I – Loved it!!
Edna has a formidable character. Her work came first, her patients and her care for her family. Other things came secondary and that was sometimes her marriages. She married men that seemed like they were supportive of her career until she was running early morning or late-night missions for her patients, that is when the men showed their true feelings.
It must have been heart breaking having to pick up over and over again, but she did it. Her ambition and care for her work and people pulled her through. The legacy of her father pulled her through.
She has shown that it is nice to have a partner and company, but not the kind that hinders you. Your goals and aspirations are just as important as your partners. She has shown women do not need to step back for their husbands to shine. She put them in the trash with the utmost respect and moved on. Brilliant... I would do the same!
Now as for Somalia and Somaliland, and the marred relationship these two countries have had after colonisation is a tragedy. It was great to read and learn about what happened here and why. And most importantly how both countries are usually considered one, but they really aren’t.
I think if more East African’s picked up this book, we would be more sympathetic to the plight of the Somali & Somalilander people. The community is somewhat marginalised in Kenya due to the type of news that plagues them, piracy and terrorism usually.
Knowing more about their situation can only make us empathise and do better. Tell a Kenyan ‘Somali’ and they will say to you ‘Al-Shabab’ (the terrorist organisation) …it’s true and it’s shitty!
Read this book!!!