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A Woman of Firsts

The Midwife Who Built a Hospital and Changed the World

Edna Adan Ismail Wendy Holden

$22.99

Paperback

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English
HQ
16 December 2020
‘The Muslim Mother Teresa’ Huffington Post

Winner of the 2023 Templeton Prize

Imprisonment. Mutilation. Persecution.

Edna Adan Ismail endured it all – for the women of Africa.

A Woman of Firsts tells the inspirational story of a remarkable daughter, nurse and First Lady. The indomitable Edna Adan Ismail survived imprisonment, persecution, and civil war to become a pioneering politician, a leading light in the World Health Organisation, and a global campaigner for women’s rights.

The eldest child of an overworked doctor in the British Protectorate of Somaliland, Edna was the first midwife in Somaliland, she campaigned tirelessly for better healthcare for women and fought for women on a global stage as the first female Foreign Minister of her country. But mixing with presidents and princes, she still never forgot her roots and continued to deliver children and train midwives – a role she has to this day.

At 81 years old, she still runs what is hailed as the Horn of Africa’s finest university hospital where she trains future generations and still delivers babies.

After all – as she puts it – she is simply a midwife.

By:  
With:  
Imprint:   HQ
Country of Publication:   United Kingdom
Dimensions:   Height: 198mm,  Width: 129mm,  Spine: 22mm
Weight:   240g
ISBN:   9780008305383
ISBN 10:   0008305382
Pages:   336
Publication Date:  
Audience:   General/trade ,  ELT Advanced
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active

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.

Reviews for A Woman of Firsts: The Midwife Who Built a Hospital and Changed the World

'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


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