A Woman of Firsts: The midwife who built a hospital and changed the world
(Hardback)
Available Formats
Publishing Details
A Woman of Firsts: The midwife who built a hospital and changed the world
By (Author) Edna Adan Ismail
With Wendy Holden
HarperCollins Publishers
HQ
8th August 2019
United Kingdom
Classifications
General
Non Fiction
618.20092
Physical Properties
Hardback
336
Width 159mm, Height 240mm, Spine 32mm
560g
Description
The Muslim Mother Teresa Huffington Post
Imprisonment. Mutilation. Persecution.
Edna Adan Ismail endured it all for the women of Africa.
Edna saw first-hand how poor healthcare, lack of education and ancient superstitions had devastating effects on Somalilands people, especially its women. When she suffered the trauma of FGM herself as a young girl at the bidding of her mother, Ednas determination was set.
The first midwife to practise in Somaliland, Edna became a formidable teacher and campaigner for womens health. As her country was swept up in its bloody fight for independence, Edna rose to become its First Lady and first female cabinet minister.
She built her own hospital, brick by brick, training future generations in what has been hailed as one of the Horn of Africas finest university hospitals
This is Ednas truly remarkable story.
Reviews
The remarkable story of an extraordinary woman. Her struggles, lessons and triumphs are an inspiration Kirsty Young, Desert Island Discs
The Muslim Mother Teresa The Huffington Post
An extraordinary story from an incredible woman. Edna has devoted her life to helping others throughout the world, and her moving story is an inspiration. Dr Amanda Brown, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Prison Doctor
Author Bio
Edna Adan Ismail was Foreign Minister of Somaliland from 2003 to 2006, and had previously served as Somaliland's Minister of Family Welfare and Social Development. She is the director and founder of the Edna Adan Maternity Hospital in Hargeisa and an activist and pioneer in the struggle for the abolition of female genital mutilation. She is also President of the Organization for Victims of Torture. She was married to Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal who was Head of Government in British Somaliland five days prior to Somalia's independence and later the Prime Minister of Somalia (1967-69) and President of Somaliland. Number-one bestselling author Wendy Holden was a journalist on Tatler, The Sunday Times, and the Mail on Sunday before becoming an author. She has since written ten consecutive Sunday Times Top Ten bestsellers. She lives in Derbyshire.
