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By Stijn Jaspers
Hargeysa, Somaliland, May 8, 2009 – Once in a while, but definitely not
too often, you meet a person that will stay with you for the rest of
your life. Edna Adan Ismail, the founder of the Edna Hospital of
Somaliland, is one of those people. Her achievements are quite
remarkable considering the difficult circumstances she has been working
in for the past few years.
Despite the grave problems that the whole region is facing, such as
piracy, terrorist violence and drought, Edna Adan has been able to build
a private hospital that focuses on mother and child care in the
self-declared independent republic of Somaliland.
Since the hospital has been operating it has helped thousands of mothers
and children and improved their health significantly. The figures show
that the maternal and child mortality rate has dropped dramatically in
Hargeysa, the capital of Somaliland, due to the work of the Edna
Hospital.
Heart, soul and mind
Edna Adan is seventy-two-years-old but still full of energy and not
willing to give up on the people of Somaliland. Despite her age she
still runs the hospital on a day-to-day basis and is in control of the
whole venture. She actually is the heart, soul and mind of the hospital.
This also poses a threat to the sustainability of the organization
because it relies on her way too much.
To see Edna Adan at work in the hospital is quite enjoyable. Her energy
and good spirits are a joy for everybody. She walks through the
corridors of the hospital full of energy and has time for a casual, or
business, talk with everybody she meets. It so clear that this woman has
a vision and a mission that she will pursue.
Sense of hope
As a former Secretary of State of Somaliland and an employee of the
World Health Organization. Edna Adan knows politics, finance and
networking. She has used these assets very well to realize her dream to
build a hospital (pictured left) which is now considered as one of the
best in town.
Her experience as a politician also makes it easy to attract foreign
donors and expertise such as internships and scientific surveys
conducted by students and universities from Europe and the US.
Walking through this hospital gives the visitor, and especially the
patients of course, a sense of hope and optimism that things can be
achieved in this region that has been almost forgotten by the
international community. Edna Adan does not only provide medical
assistance via her work and staff, but she spreads hope to a community
that has to fight for survival every single day.
Source: Radio Netherlands
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