TEDWomen 2010
Hawa Abdi + Deqo Mohamed: Mother and daughter doctor-heroes
Hooyo iyo inanteeda oo ah dhaqaatiir geesiya-yaal.
Filmed:
Readability: 3.1
457,143 views
Waxaa loogu magac daray "Weli-yaasha Somalia." Dhaqtar Hawa Abdi iyo gabadheeda Deqo Mohamed ayaa ka hadlayo xaruntooda caafimaad ee ku taalo gudaha Somalia, halka ay-- wejidayada dagaalada sokeeye iyo cadaadiska daaha ka rogan ee dumarka,--ay u dhiseen Isbitaal, Iskuul iyo shacab nabadeed.
Dr. Hawa Abdi + Dr. Deqo Mohamed - Somali doctors who treat women refugees
Dr. Hawa Abdi and her daughters, Dr. Deqo Mohamed and Dr. Amina Mohamed, treat Somali refugee women and children, often for free. Full bio
Dr. Hawa Abdi and her daughters, Dr. Deqo Mohamed and Dr. Amina Mohamed, treat Somali refugee women and children, often for free. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:16
Hawa Abdi: Many people -- 20 years for Somalia --
0
1000
3000
Hawa Abdi: Dad aad ubadan-- 20 sano ee Somalia
00:19
[were] fighting.
1
4000
2000
ayaa isku dagalaayay.
00:21
So there was no job, no food.
2
6000
4000
Shaqa iyo cunaba toona maysan jidhin.
00:25
Children, most of them,
3
10000
2000
Caruurta badankooda
00:27
became very malnourished, like this.
4
12000
3000
waxay noqdeen kuwa nafaqa dareeysan, sidaan oo kale
00:31
Deqo Mohamed: So as you know,
5
16000
2000
Deqo Mohamed: Sida aad ogtihiin
00:33
always in a civil war,
6
18000
2000
Dagaalada sokeeya inta ay socdaan
00:35
the ones affected most [are] the women and children.
7
20000
3000
kuwa aay badanaa saameyso waa caruurta iyo dumarka
00:38
So our patients are women and children.
8
23000
3000
Marka, bukaanadeenu waa dumar iyo caruur.
00:41
And they are in our backyard.
9
26000
2000
Waxay ku jiraan deyrkeena.
00:43
It's our home. We welcome them.
10
28000
2000
waa gurigeena. Waan kusoo dhaweynaa.
00:45
That's the camp that we have in now
11
30000
3000
waa xerada aan hada ku hayno
00:48
90,000 people,
12
33000
2000
dad gaarayo 90,000,
00:50
where 75 percent of them are women and children.
13
35000
3000
halka 75% ay yihiin dumar iyo caruur.
00:53
Pat Mitchell: And this is your hospital. This is the inside.
14
38000
2000
Pat Mitchell: Kani waa isbitaalkiin. halkani waa gudaha.
00:55
HA: We are doing C-sections and different operations
15
40000
3000
HA: Waxaynu sameynaa qeebaha C iyo hoolgalo kala duwan
00:58
because people need some help.
16
43000
3000
maxa yelay dadku waxay u baahan yihiin caawimad.
01:01
There is no government to protect them.
17
46000
3000
Dowlad difaacda majirto.
01:04
DM: Every morning we have about 400 patients,
18
49000
3000
DM: Bukaano gaaraya 400 ayaan subax walbo daaweynaa,
01:07
maybe more or less.
19
52000
2000
weey ka badataan ama ka yaaradaan.
01:09
But sometimes we are only five doctors
20
54000
3000
Mararka qaar waxaynu nahay kaliya 5 dhaqaatiir
01:12
and 16 nurses,
21
57000
2000
iyo 16 kalkaaliyal.
01:14
and we are physically getting exhausted to see all of them.
22
59000
4000
jismiyan aad baan u daalnaa si aan dhamaantooda u qaabilno.
01:18
But we take the severe ones,
23
63000
2000
Laakin waxan qaabilnaa kuwa daran oo kaliya,
01:20
and we reschedule the other ones the next day.
24
65000
3000
kuwa kalena waxaan dib u balaminaa maalinta xigta.
01:23
It is very tough.
25
68000
2000
aad beey u adagtahay.
01:25
And as you can see, it's the women who are carrying the children;
26
70000
3000
Sida aad u jeedo, dumarka ayaa caruurta wadaan;
01:28
it's the women who come into the hospitals;
27
73000
2000
waa dumar kuwa isbitaalka imaada;
01:30
it's the women [are] building the houses.
28
75000
2000
waa dumar kuwa dhisayo guryaha.
01:32
That's their house.
29
77000
2000
kaasi waa gurigooda.
01:34
And we have a school. This is our bright --
30
79000
3000
Iskuul ayeeynu leenahay. Waa iftiinkeena--
01:37
we opened [in the] last two years [an] elementary school
31
82000
3000
labadii sano ugu dambeysay ayaynu furnay dugsi hoose
01:40
where we have 850 children,
32
85000
3000
halkaas oo aan ku haayno caruur dhan 850,
01:43
and the majority are women and girls.
33
88000
2000
misna waa dumar iyo gabdho ugu badnaatii.
01:45
(Applause)
34
90000
6000
(Sacbis)
01:51
PM: And the doctors have some very big rules
35
96000
3000
PM: Daqaatiirtu waxay leeyihiin qawaaniin aad u weyn
01:54
about who can get treated at the clinic.
36
99000
2000
oo ku saabsan qofka helayo daaweyn.
01:56
Would you explain the rules for admission?
37
101000
3000
Manoo sharixi kartaa qawaaniintaas ku saabsan aqbalitaanka?
01:59
HA: The people who are coming to us,
38
104000
2000
HA: Dadka noo imaado,
02:01
we are welcoming.
39
106000
2000
weeynu soo dhaweynaa.
02:03
We are sharing with them
40
108000
2000
waxaynu la wadaagnaa
02:05
whatever we have.
41
110000
2000
wax walbo oo aan heesano.
02:07
But there are only two rules.
42
112000
2000
laakin waxaa jira laba sharci.
02:09
First rule:
43
114000
2000
Sharciga koowaad:
02:11
there is no clan distinguished and political division
44
116000
3000
Majiraan wax qabiileeysi iyo kala qeebsanaan siyaasadeed kusaabsan
02:14
in Somali society.
45
119000
3000
ee shacabka Somaliyeed dhexdiisa.
02:17
[Whomever] makes those things we throw out.
46
122000
3000
Qof walboo waxaas ku dhaqmo banaanka ayaan u tuurnaa.
02:20
The second:
47
125000
2000
Mida labaad:
02:22
no man can beat his wife.
48
127000
2000
Nin garaaci karo xaaskiisa majiro.
02:24
If he beat,
49
129000
2000
haduu garaaco,
02:26
we will put [him] in jail,
50
131000
2000
Xabsi ayaan dhex dhigeena,
02:28
and we will call the eldest people.
51
133000
3000
misna waxan u yeereena duqoowda.
02:31
Until they identify this case,
52
136000
3000
ilaa ay ka cadeeyan case-kiisa,
02:34
we'll never release him.
53
139000
2000
xabsiga kama soo deeyneeyno.
02:36
That's our two rules.
54
141000
2000
Kuwasi waa labadeena sharci.
02:38
(Applause)
55
143000
5000
(Sacbis)
02:43
The other thing that I have realized,
56
148000
3000
Mida kale aan ogaaday aya waxay tahay,
02:46
that the woman is the most strong person
57
151000
3000
Inay dumarku yihiin kuwa ugu adag
02:49
all over the world.
58
154000
2000
aduunka daafahiisa.
02:51
Because the last 20 years,
59
156000
2000
Maxa yelay, 20-kii sano ee ugu dambeysay,
02:53
the Somali woman has stood up.
60
158000
3000
Dumarkii Somaliyeed ayaa fadhiga ka kacay.
02:56
They were the leaders,
61
161000
2000
Hogaamiya-yaal ayeey ahaayen,
02:58
and we are the leaders
62
163000
2000
anaguna waxaynu nahay hogaamiya-yaasha
03:00
of our community
63
165000
2000
shacabkeena
03:02
and the hope of our future generations.
64
167000
2000
iyo rajada mustaqbalka jiilkeena.
03:04
We are not just the helpless
65
169000
2000
ma'aan nihin kuwa miciin laawa yaasha
03:06
and the victims of the civil war.
66
171000
2000
iyo dhibanayaasha dagaalka sokeeye.
03:08
We can reconcile.
67
173000
2000
Dib weeynu uheshiin karnaa.
03:10
We can do everything.
68
175000
2000
Wax walbo weeynu qaban karnaa.
03:12
(Applause)
69
177000
6000
(Sacbis)
03:18
DM: As my mother said, we are the future hope,
70
183000
2000
DM: Waxaynu nahay rajada mustaqbalka sida hoyadey ka dhawajisay,
03:20
and the men are only killing in Somalia.
71
185000
3000
Ragga ayaa kaliya wax laaya.
03:23
So we came up with these two rules.
72
188000
2000
Marka waxaynu la imaanay labadaan sharci.
03:25
In a camp with 90,000 people,
73
190000
2000
Xero ay ku jiraan 90,000 oo qofood,
03:27
you have to come up with some rules or there is going to be some fights.
74
192000
3000
waa inaad la imaada qawaaniin ama dagaal ayaa meesha ka dhalanayo.
03:30
So there is no clan division,
75
195000
2000
Marka, Majijran wax kala qeyb-sanaan qabiil,
03:32
and no man can beat his wife.
76
197000
2000
misna nin xaaskiisa garaaci karana majirto,
03:34
And we have a little storage room
77
199000
2000
Waxaynu heeysanaa maqaasin yar
03:36
where we converted a jail.
78
201000
2000
oo aan xabsi ka dhignay.
03:38
So if you beat your wife, you're going to be there.
79
203000
2000
Marka hadaad xaaskaada garaacdo meeshas ayaa galeysa.
03:40
(Applause)
80
205000
2000
(Sacbis)
03:42
So empowering the women and giving the opportunity --
81
207000
3000
Dumarka ayaan baraarujina misna aan siina jaanis---
03:45
we are there for them. They are not alone for this.
82
210000
4000
Dartooda ayaa halkaas ujoognaa. kaligood kuma ahin hooshaan.
03:49
PM: You're running a medical clinic.
83
214000
2000
PM: Waxaad maamusha xarun caafimaad.
03:51
It brought much, much needed medical care
84
216000
3000
Waxay keentay daryeel caafimaad oo ay aad ugu baahnayeen
03:54
to people who wouldn't get it.
85
219000
2000
dadka aan awoodin iney helaan.
03:56
You're also running a civil society.
86
221000
2000
Waxaad kaloo maamushaa bulshada rayidka.
03:58
You've created your own rules,
87
223000
2000
Waxaad aas-aastay sharuuc-daada,
04:00
in which women and children
88
225000
2000
taaso dumarka iyo caruurta
04:02
are getting a different sense of security.
89
227000
3000
ay helayaan xaalado amni oo kala duwan.
04:05
Talk to me about your decision, Dr. Abdi,
90
230000
3000
Isheeg go'aan-kaada, Dr.Abdi,
04:08
and your decision, Dr. Mohamed,
91
233000
2000
adigana sidoo kale, Dr.Mohamed,
04:10
to work together --
92
235000
2000
ee wada shaqeynta ku saabsan--
04:12
for you to become a doctor
93
237000
2000
si aad adiga u noqoto dhakhtar
04:14
and to work with your mother in these circumstances.
94
239000
3000
misna aad ula shaqeeyso hooyadaada xaaladahaan.
04:17
HA: My age --
95
242000
2000
HA: Da'deydu--
04:19
because I was born in 1947 --
96
244000
3000
maxa yeelay waxaan dhashay 1947--
04:22
we were having, at that time,
97
247000
2000
waqtigaas oo aynu laheen,
04:24
government, law and order.
98
249000
3000
dowlad, sharci iyo nidaam.
04:28
But one day, I went to the hospital --
99
253000
3000
Laakin maalin ayaan waxan aaday isbitalka--
04:31
my mother was sick --
100
256000
2000
hooyadey ayaa xanuunsaneyd--
04:33
and I saw the hospital, how they [were] treating the doctors,
101
258000
3000
waxaan arkay sida dhaqatiirtu ay u daaweynayaan,
04:36
how they [are] committed
102
261000
2000
sida ay ugu go'een
04:38
to help the sick people.
103
263000
3000
inay caawiyaan dadka xanuun sanaya.
04:41
I admired them,
104
266000
2000
Aad baan ula dhacay,
04:43
and I decided to become a doctor.
105
268000
2000
waxaana go'aan saday inaan noqdo dhaqtar.
04:45
My mother died, unfortunately,
106
270000
2000
Nasiib xumo hooyadey waxay geeriyootay,
04:47
when I was 12 years [old].
107
272000
2000
markaan 12 jir ahaay.
04:49
Then my father allowed me
108
274000
4000
kadib aabahey ayaa wuxu ii ogolaaday
04:53
to proceed [with] my hope.
109
278000
3000
inaan rajadeyda horay usii wato.
04:56
My mother died
110
281000
2000
hooyadey ayaa waxay u dhimatay
04:58
in [a] gynecology complication,
111
283000
2000
cudarada dumarka oo aad u dhib badan,
05:00
so I decided to become
112
285000
2000
marka waxaan go'aan saday inaan noqdo
05:02
a gynecology specialist.
113
287000
3000
qof ku taqasuso cudurada dumarka.
05:05
That's why I became a doctor.
114
290000
3000
Sidaas darteed ayaan dhaqtar u noqday
05:08
So Dr. Deqo has to explain.
115
293000
3000
Marka Dr. Deqo aya idiin sharaxeeso ayadana.
05:11
DM: For me, my mother was preparing [me] when I was a child
116
296000
3000
DM: dhankeyga, hooyaday ayaaba ii diyaarinaysay markaan yaraa
05:14
to become a doctor, but I really didn't want to.
117
299000
3000
inaan noqdo dhaqtar, laakin dhab ahaantii maanan rabin dhaqtarnimo.
05:17
Maybe I should become an historian,
118
302000
2000
Waxan ku haminayay inaan noqdo taarikh-yahan,
05:19
or maybe a reporter.
119
304000
2000
ama wariye,
05:21
I loved it, but it didn't work.
120
306000
2000
aad baan u jeclaa laakin iima suurto gelin.
05:23
When the war broke out -- civil war --
121
308000
2000
Markii dagaalkii uu bilaawday---Dagaalkii sokeeye--
05:25
I saw how my mother was helping
122
310000
2000
waxan arkay sida hooyadey aay u caawineysay
05:27
and how she really needed the help,
123
312000
2000
iyo sida ay caawinaad ugu baahneed,
05:29
and how the care is essential to the woman
124
314000
3000
iyo sida ay daryeelku dumarku muhiim ugu yahay
05:32
to be a woman doctor in Somalia
125
317000
2000
si ay u noqoto dhaqtar haween ah ee Somalia dhexdeda
05:34
and help the women and children.
126
319000
2000
misna ay dumarka iyo caruruta u caawiso.
05:36
And I thought, maybe I can be a reporter and doctor gynecologist.
127
321000
3000
waxan ku fekeray inaan isku noqdo dhaqtar iyo wariye
05:39
(Laughter)
128
324000
2000
(Qosol)
05:41
So I went to Russia, and my mother also,
129
326000
2000
Marka waxaan aaday Russia. xita hooyadey waxay aday,
05:43
[during the] time of [the] Soviet Union.
130
328000
2000
waqtigii midawga Soviet.
05:45
So some of our character,
131
330000
3000
Dabeecadaheena qaar,
05:48
maybe we will come with a strong Soviet background of training.
132
333000
3000
waxaan kasoo dhaxalnay tababarka adag ee soviet-ka.
05:52
So that's how I decided [to do] the same.
133
337000
2000
Marka waa sidaas qaabka aan ku noqday Dr,
05:54
My sister was different.
134
339000
2000
Walaasheyda waxay aheyd mid naga duwan.
05:56
She's here. She's also a doctor.
135
341000
2000
Waatana. Ayaduna waa Dhaqtarad.
05:58
She graduated in Russia also.
136
343000
2000
Russia ayeey ka soo qalin jebisay sido kale.
06:00
(Applause)
137
345000
2000
(Sacbis)
06:02
And to go back and to work with our mother
138
347000
2000
laabashadeeni iyo la shaqeynta hooyadeyn
06:04
is just what we saw in the civil war --
139
349000
2000
ayaa aheyda waxa kaliya aan la kulanay dagaaladii sokeeye--
06:06
when I was 16, and my sister was 11,
140
351000
3000
16 jidh markaan ahay, walashey waxay jidhay 11,
06:09
when the civil war broke out.
141
354000
3000
goortii dagaaladii sokeeye qarxay.
06:12
So it was the need and the people we saw
142
357000
3000
marka waxay aheyd baahida iyo dadkii aan aragnay
06:15
in the early '90s --
143
360000
2000
bilawgii 90-meeyadii--
06:17
that's what made us go back
144
362000
2000
waxa nagu dhaliyay inaan dib u laabano
06:19
and work for them.
145
364000
3000
misna aan wax ugu qabano.
06:22
PM: So what is the biggest challenge
146
367000
3000
PM: Maxay tahay carqalada ugu weyn ee hortaala
06:25
working, mother and daughter,
147
370000
2000
hooyo iyo inanteedi aay ku dhex shaqeynayaan,
06:27
in such dangerous
148
372000
2000
halista
06:29
and sometimes scary situations?
149
374000
2000
iyo xaaladahaan cabsida ahi?
06:31
HA: Yes, I was working in a tough situation,
150
376000
4000
HA: Haa, waxan ku dhex shaqeynaya xaalad adag,
06:35
very dangerous.
151
380000
3000
oo aad u halis ah.
06:38
And when I saw the people who needed me,
152
383000
3000
Misna markii aan arkay dadka ii baahan,
06:41
I was staying with them to help,
153
386000
2000
iyaga ayaan la joogay si aan u caawiyio
06:43
because I [could] do something for them.
154
388000
3000
maxa yelay waxan awooday inaan wax uun uqabto
06:46
Most people fled abroad.
155
391000
4000
Dadka badankiisa waxay u yaaceen dibada.
06:50
But I remained with those people,
156
395000
3000
Lakin aniga waxan lajoogay kuwa hadhay,
06:53
and I was trying to do something --
157
398000
3000
waxaana isku dayay inaan wax uun u qabto--
06:56
[any] little thing I [could] do.
158
401000
3000
haba yaraatee.
06:59
I succeeded in my place.
159
404000
3000
Waan ku guuleestay hoosheyda.
07:02
Now my place is 90,000 people
160
407000
4000
Iminka waxaan goobteyda ku hayaa 90,000 oo qofood
07:06
who are respecting each other,
161
411000
2000
kuwaas oo is xushmeeya,
07:08
who are not fighting.
162
413000
3000
aanan marnaba dagaalameynin.
07:11
But we try to stand on our feet,
163
416000
4000
Waxan isku daynaa inaa cirbaheena ku istaagno,
07:15
to do something, little things, we can for our people.
164
420000
4000
si aan wax ugu qabano dadkeena, haba yaraatee.
07:19
And I'm thankful for my daughters.
165
424000
3000
Aaad baana ugu mahad celinayaa gabdhaheyga,
07:22
When they come to me,
166
427000
2000
Markaye ii imaaadan,
07:24
they help me to treat the people,
167
429000
2000
waxay iga caawiyaan inaay dadka ii daweeyaan,
07:26
to help.
168
431000
2000
si ay u caawiyaan.
07:28
They do everything for them.
169
433000
2000
Wax walbo ayeey u qabtaan.
07:30
They have done what I desire to do for them.
170
435000
3000
Waxay qabteen wax walbo aan rabay inaan iyaga u qabto.
07:34
PM: What's the best part
171
439000
2000
PM: Maxay tahay qeebta ugu fiican
07:36
of working with your mother,
172
441000
2000
ee la shaqeynta hooyadaa,
07:38
and the most challenging part for you?
173
443000
3000
iyo qeebta kugu dhibka badan ?
07:41
DM: She's very tough; it's most challenging.
174
446000
3000
DM: qeebta igu dhibka badan waa; hooyadey aad bey u adagtahay.
07:44
She always expects us to do more.
175
449000
3000
Mar walbo waxay rabtaa inaa wax badan sameyno.
07:47
And really when you think [you] cannot do it,
176
452000
2000
xaqiiqdii markii aad niyad jabto oo aad quusato,
07:49
she will push you, and I can do it.
177
454000
2000
weeyna dhiira gelisa si aan u sameyno oo u gulesano
07:51
That's the best part.
178
456000
2000
Taasi waa qeebta ugu fiican.
07:53
She shows us, trains us how to do
179
458000
2000
Waay na taba bartaa oo ay na tustaa sida loo sameeyo
07:55
and how to be better [people]
180
460000
2000
misna loo noqdo dad aad u wanaagsan
07:57
and how to do long hours in surgery --
181
462000
2000
iyo sida loo sameeyo qaliin waqti badan ah--
07:59
300 patients per day,
182
464000
3000
ugu yaraan 300 oo bukaan ah maalin walbo,
08:02
10, 20 surgeries,
183
467000
2000
10 ilaa 20 qaliin ah,
08:04
and still you have to manage the camp --
184
469000
2000
sidoo kale waa inaad ogaata xerada--
08:06
that's how she trains us.
185
471000
3000
taasi waa sida aan noo taba barto.
08:09
It is not like beautiful offices here,
186
474000
2000
halkani ma ahin sidii xafiisyo qurux badan,
08:11
20 patients, you're tired.
187
476000
2000
20 bukaan waana daaleeysa.
08:13
You see 300 patients, 20 surgeries
188
478000
3000
sida aad u jeedo waa 300 oo qofood, 20 qaliin ah
08:16
and 90,000 people to manage.
189
481000
3000
iyo 90,000 qofood oo ad ogaaneysid.
08:19
PM: But you do it for good reasons.
190
484000
2000
PM: Laakin waxan u sameysaa dhan wanaag ku jiro.
08:21
(Applause)
191
486000
4000
(Sacbis)
08:25
Wait. Wait.
192
490000
2000
Su,Sug.
08:27
HA: Thank you.
193
492000
2000
HA: Mahadsanid.
08:29
DM: Thank you.
194
494000
2000
DM: Mahadsanidiin.
08:31
(Applause)
195
496000
4000
(Sacbis)
08:35
HA: Thank you very much. DM: Thank you very much.
196
500000
2000
Ha: Aaad baad u mahadsan tihii. DM: aad baad u mahadsan tihiin.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Dr. Hawa Abdi + Dr. Deqo Mohamed - Somali doctors who treat women refugeesDr. Hawa Abdi and her daughters, Dr. Deqo Mohamed and Dr. Amina Mohamed, treat Somali refugee women and children, often for free.
Why you should listen
Dr. Hawa Abdi is an OB/GYN (and a lawyer) who lives and works in Somalia with her daughters, also doctors, Dr. Amina Mohamed and Dr. Dr. Deqo Mohamed. In 1983, she opened a small clinic in Somalia -- which became a refuge as Somalia devolved into civil war. Her one-room clinic has grown to encompass a hospital, a school and a refugee camp for some 90,000 women and children, she estimates, who were displaced by war.
In 2010, Glamour named Dr. Abdi and her daughters "Women of the Year," and called them the "Saints of Somalia." Nicholas Kristoff wrote a stirring tribute to her work titled "Heroic, Female and Muslim." And she works largely on her own; as Glamour notes: "While Dr. Abdi has gotten some help, many charities refuse to enter Somalia. 'It’s the most dangerous country,' says Kati Marton, a board member of Human Rights Watch. 'Dr. Abdi is just about the only one doing anything.'"
Dr. Hawa Abdi + Dr. Deqo Mohamed | Speaker | TED.com