A Woman of Firsts

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A Woman of Firsts: Episode 4

Episode 4

BBC Radio 4 - A Woman of Firsts, Episode 4

Edna Ismail describes the pain of her wedding night as a circumcised woman.

Edna Ismail recalls the pain and humiliation of her wedding night as a circumcised woman. Now married to a politician, her profile rises as she continues to practise midwifery.

The memoir of Edna Adan Ismail, a remarkable daughter, midwife and First Lady.

As the eldest child of an overworked doctor in 1950s Somaliland, Edna saw first-hand how poor healthcare, lack of education and ancient superstitions had devastating effects on the country’s people, especially women. When she suffered the trauma of FGM as an 8 year-old girl, Edna’s determination was born. 

She became a nurse and midwife, a formidable teacher and a campaigner for women’s health. As her country was swept up in its bloody fight for independence, Edna also rose to become its First Lady and first female cabinet minister.  But mixing with Presidents and Princes, she never forgot her roots and continued to train midwives – a role she has to this day.

In time, she built her own hospital, brick by brick, in the face of many obstacles - to ensure the training of future generations.  The indomitable 82 year-old Edna still delivers babies. After all - as she puts it - she is "simply a midwife".  

In episode four, Edna recalls the pain and humiliation of her wedding night as a circumcised woman. Now a First Lady, married to the Somali Republic’s Prime Minister, she insists on continuing to work at the hospital and carrying out emergency midwifery work in remote nomadic settlements. Political turmoil affects her personal life. 


Read by Cathy Tyson.
Abridged by Anna Magnusson.
Produced by Pippa Vaughan.
A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4

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By Edna Adan Ismail. The midwife who built a hospital and changed the world.

Book of the Week. A Woman of Firsts: The midwife who built a hospital and changed the world. By Edna Adan Ismail

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