An extraordinary figure in the realm of humanitarianism and medicine, Dr Hawa Abdi epitomises resilience, compassion, and unwavering dedication to serving others. Learn all about her remarkable efforts in providing essential healthcare and refuge to countless individuals amidst Somalia’s tumultuous civil war.
Making its debut in Passions, Vol. 56, this article has been reimagined for the digital sphere – exclusively on VOICE OF ASIA.
Dr Abdi never had it easy. With the loss of her mother at the tender age of 12, this young Somali girl had to take over the responsibility of performing all the household chores. But it did not stop this hard worker from obtaining a scholarship to study Medicine in 1964 and graduating as a doctor seven years later. This was the key that unlocked her potential.
With a strong desire to contribute to the community, Dr Abdi opened a one-room clinic on family-owned land in Somalia in 1983. From a small clinic providing obstetric care to 24 rural women a day, this clinic expanded into a 400-bedded hospital providing free healthcare! The clinic was renamed the Dr Hawa Abdi Foundation (DHAF) in 2007, and it is estimated the complex has served around 2 million needy citizens to date.
In the early 1990s, during the outbreak of the Somalian civil war, Dr Abdi stayed on to help the vulnerable, opening a new clinic, along with a school for orphans and displaced communities. At the peak of the Islamic insurgency in southern Somalia in 1999, rebels occupied the compound of the DHAF, pressuring her to shut down operations. Not one to be easily threatened, the courageous lady stood her ground, gathered support from local residents, the United Nations and other advocacy groups, and finally forced the militants to leave.
For her consistent humanitarian work in providing medical assistance to millions of underprivileged Somalis, Dr Hawa Abdi was nominated for the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize.
Be it civil war, threats from rebel groups, drought or famine, nothing could deter Dr Hawa Abdi from serving humanity and providing care for the most vulnerable sections of society. She stood her ground, unflinching in the face of all adversity, a beacon of hope for the oppressed.
