Mother and daughter doctor-heroes: Hawa Abdi + Deqo Mohamed

Translator: Jamal Omar Reviewer: Abdiwahab Osman

Hawa Abdi: Many people -- 20 years for Somalia --

Hawa Abdi: Dad aad ubadan-- 20 sano ee Somalia

[were] fighting.

ayaa isku dagalaayay.

So there was no job, no food.

Shaqa iyo cunaba toona maysan jidhin.

Children, most of them,

Caruurta badankooda

became very malnourished, like this.

waxay noqdeen kuwa nafaqa dareeysan, sidaan oo kale

Deqo Mohamed: So as you know,

Deqo Mohamed: Sida aad ogtihiin

always in a civil war,

Dagaalada sokeeya inta ay socdaan

the ones affected most [are] the women and children.

kuwa aay badanaa saameyso waa caruurta iyo dumarka

So our patients are women and children.

Marka, bukaanadeenu waa dumar iyo caruur.

And they are in our backyard.

Waxay ku jiraan deyrkeena.

It's our home. We welcome them.

waa gurigeena. Waan kusoo dhaweynaa.

That's the camp that we have in now

waa xerada aan hada ku hayno

90,000 people,

dad gaarayo 90,000,

where 75 percent of them are women and children.

halka 75% ay yihiin dumar iyo caruur.

Pat Mitchell: And this is your hospital. This is the inside.

Pat Mitchell: Kani waa isbitaalkiin. halkani waa gudaha.

HA: We are doing C-sections and different operations

HA: Waxaynu sameynaa qeebaha C iyo hoolgalo kala duwan

because people need some help.

maxa yelay dadku waxay u baahan yihiin caawimad.

There is no government to protect them.

Dowlad difaacda majirto.

DM: Every morning we have about 400 patients,

DM: Bukaano gaaraya 400 ayaan subax walbo daaweynaa,

maybe more or less.

weey ka badataan ama ka yaaradaan.

But sometimes we are only five doctors

Mararka qaar waxaynu nahay kaliya 5 dhaqaatiir

and 16 nurses,

iyo 16 kalkaaliyal.

and we are physically getting exhausted to see all of them.

jismiyan aad baan u daalnaa si aan dhamaantooda u qaabilno.

But we take the severe ones,

Laakin waxan qaabilnaa kuwa daran oo kaliya,

and we reschedule the other ones the next day.

kuwa kalena waxaan dib u balaminaa maalinta xigta.

It is very tough.

aad beey u adagtahay.

And as you can see, it's the women who are carrying the children;

Sida aad u jeedo, dumarka ayaa caruurta wadaan;

it's the women who come into the hospitals;

waa dumar kuwa isbitaalka imaada;

it's the women [are] building the houses.

waa dumar kuwa dhisayo guryaha.

That's their house.

kaasi waa gurigooda.

And we have a school. This is our bright --

Iskuul ayeeynu leenahay. Waa iftiinkeena--

we opened [in the] last two years [an] elementary school

labadii sano ugu dambeysay ayaynu furnay dugsi hoose

where we have 850 children,

halkaas oo aan ku haayno caruur dhan 850,

and the majority are women and girls.

misna waa dumar iyo gabdho ugu badnaatii.

(Applause)

(Sacbis)

PM: And the doctors have some very big rules

PM: Daqaatiirtu waxay leeyihiin qawaaniin aad u weyn

about who can get treated at the clinic.

oo ku saabsan qofka helayo daaweyn.

Would you explain the rules for admission?

Manoo sharixi kartaa qawaaniintaas ku saabsan aqbalitaanka?

HA: The people who are coming to us,

HA: Dadka noo imaado,

we are welcoming.

weeynu soo dhaweynaa.

We are sharing with them

waxaynu la wadaagnaa

whatever we have.

wax walbo oo aan heesano.

But there are only two rules.

laakin waxaa jira laba sharci.

First rule:

Sharciga koowaad:

there is no clan distinguished and political division

Majiraan wax qabiileeysi iyo kala qeebsanaan siyaasadeed kusaabsan

in Somali society.

ee shacabka Somaliyeed dhexdiisa.

[Whomever] makes those things we throw out.

Qof walboo waxaas ku dhaqmo banaanka ayaan u tuurnaa.

The second:

Mida labaad:

no man can beat his wife.

Nin garaaci karo xaaskiisa majiro.

If he beat,

haduu garaaco,

we will put [him] in jail,

Xabsi ayaan dhex dhigeena,

and we will call the eldest people.

misna waxan u yeereena duqoowda.

Until they identify this case,

ilaa ay ka cadeeyan case-kiisa,

we'll never release him.

xabsiga kama soo deeyneeyno.

That's our two rules.

Kuwasi waa labadeena sharci.

(Applause)

(Sacbis)

The other thing that I have realized,

Mida kale aan ogaaday aya waxay tahay,

that the woman is the most strong person

Inay dumarku yihiin kuwa ugu adag

all over the world.

aduunka daafahiisa.

Because the last 20 years,

Maxa yelay, 20-kii sano ee ugu dambeysay,

the Somali woman has stood up.

Dumarkii Somaliyeed ayaa fadhiga ka kacay.

They were the leaders,

Hogaamiya-yaal ayeey ahaayen,

and we are the leaders

anaguna waxaynu nahay hogaamiya-yaasha

of our community

shacabkeena

and the hope of our future generations.

iyo rajada mustaqbalka jiilkeena.

We are not just the helpless

ma'aan nihin kuwa miciin laawa yaasha

and the victims of the civil war.

iyo dhibanayaasha dagaalka sokeeye.

We can reconcile.

Dib weeynu uheshiin karnaa.

We can do everything.

Wax walbo weeynu qaban karnaa.

(Applause)

(Sacbis)

DM: As my mother said, we are the future hope,

DM: Waxaynu nahay rajada mustaqbalka sida hoyadey ka dhawajisay,

and the men are only killing in Somalia.

Ragga ayaa kaliya wax laaya.

So we came up with these two rules.

Marka waxaynu la imaanay labadaan sharci.

In a camp with 90,000 people,

Xero ay ku jiraan 90,000 oo qofood,

you have to come up with some rules or there is going to be some fights.

waa inaad la imaada qawaaniin ama dagaal ayaa meesha ka dhalanayo.

So there is no clan division,

Marka, Majijran wax kala qeyb-sanaan qabiil,

and no man can beat his wife.

misna nin xaaskiisa garaaci karana majirto,

And we have a little storage room

Waxaynu heeysanaa maqaasin yar

where we converted a jail.

oo aan xabsi ka dhignay.

So if you beat your wife, you're going to be there.

Marka hadaad xaaskaada garaacdo meeshas ayaa galeysa.

(Applause)

(Sacbis)

So empowering the women and giving the opportunity --

Dumarka ayaan baraarujina misna aan siina jaanis---

we are there for them. They are not alone for this.

Dartooda ayaa halkaas ujoognaa. kaligood kuma ahin hooshaan.

PM: You're running a medical clinic.

PM: Waxaad maamusha xarun caafimaad.

It brought much, much needed medical care

Waxay keentay daryeel caafimaad oo ay aad ugu baahnayeen

to people who wouldn't get it.

dadka aan awoodin iney helaan.

You're also running a civil society.

Waxaad kaloo maamushaa bulshada rayidka.

You've created your own rules,

Waxaad aas-aastay sharuuc-daada,

in which women and children

taaso dumarka iyo caruurta

are getting a different sense of security.

ay helayaan xaalado amni oo kala duwan.

Talk to me about your decision, Dr. Abdi,

Isheeg go'aan-kaada, Dr.Abdi,

and your decision, Dr. Mohamed,

adigana sidoo kale, Dr.Mohamed,

to work together --

ee wada shaqeynta ku saabsan--

for you to become a doctor

si aad adiga u noqoto dhakhtar

and to work with your mother in these circumstances.

misna aad ula shaqeeyso hooyadaada xaaladahaan.

HA: My age --

HA: Da'deydu--

because I was born in 1947 --

maxa yeelay waxaan dhashay 1947--

we were having, at that time,

waqtigaas oo aynu laheen,

government, law and order.

dowlad, sharci iyo nidaam.

But one day, I went to the hospital --

Laakin maalin ayaan waxan aaday isbitalka--

my mother was sick --

hooyadey ayaa xanuunsaneyd--

and I saw the hospital, how they [were] treating the doctors,

waxaan arkay sida dhaqatiirtu ay u daaweynayaan,

how they [are] committed

sida ay ugu go'een

to help the sick people.

inay caawiyaan dadka xanuun sanaya.

I admired them,

Aad baan ula dhacay,

and I decided to become a doctor.

waxaana go'aan saday inaan noqdo dhaqtar.

My mother died, unfortunately,

Nasiib xumo hooyadey waxay geeriyootay,

when I was 12 years [old].

markaan 12 jir ahaay.

Then my father allowed me

kadib aabahey ayaa wuxu ii ogolaaday

to proceed [with] my hope.

inaan rajadeyda horay usii wato.

My mother died

hooyadey ayaa waxay u dhimatay

in [a] gynecology complication,

cudarada dumarka oo aad u dhib badan,

so I decided to become

marka waxaan go'aan saday inaan noqdo

a gynecology specialist.

qof ku taqasuso cudurada dumarka.

That's why I became a doctor.

Sidaas darteed ayaan dhaqtar u noqday

So Dr. Deqo has to explain.

Marka Dr. Deqo aya idiin sharaxeeso ayadana.

DM: For me, my mother was preparing [me] when I was a child

DM: dhankeyga, hooyaday ayaaba ii diyaarinaysay markaan yaraa

to become a doctor, but I really didn't want to.

inaan noqdo dhaqtar, laakin dhab ahaantii maanan rabin dhaqtarnimo.

Maybe I should become an historian,

Waxan ku haminayay inaan noqdo taarikh-yahan,

or maybe a reporter.

ama wariye,

I loved it, but it didn't work.

aad baan u jeclaa laakin iima suurto gelin.

When the war broke out -- civil war --

Markii dagaalkii uu bilaawday---Dagaalkii sokeeye--

I saw how my mother was helping

waxan arkay sida hooyadey aay u caawineysay

and how she really needed the help,

iyo sida ay caawinaad ugu baahneed,

and how the care is essential to the woman

iyo sida ay daryeelku dumarku muhiim ugu yahay

to be a woman doctor in Somalia

si ay u noqoto dhaqtar haween ah ee Somalia dhexdeda

and help the women and children.

misna ay dumarka iyo caruruta u caawiso.

And I thought, maybe I can be a reporter and doctor gynecologist.

waxan ku fekeray inaan isku noqdo dhaqtar iyo wariye

(Laughter)

(Qosol)

So I went to Russia, and my mother also,

Marka waxaan aaday Russia. xita hooyadey waxay aday,

[during the] time of [the] Soviet Union.

waqtigii midawga Soviet.

So some of our character,

Dabeecadaheena qaar,

maybe we will come with a strong Soviet background of training.

waxaan kasoo dhaxalnay tababarka adag ee soviet-ka.

So that's how I decided [to do] the same.

Marka waa sidaas qaabka aan ku noqday Dr,

My sister was different.

Walaasheyda waxay aheyd mid naga duwan.

She's here. She's also a doctor.

Waatana. Ayaduna waa Dhaqtarad.

She graduated in Russia also.

Russia ayeey ka soo qalin jebisay sido kale.

(Applause)

(Sacbis)

And to go back and to work with our mother

laabashadeeni iyo la shaqeynta hooyadeyn

is just what we saw in the civil war --

ayaa aheyda waxa kaliya aan la kulanay dagaaladii sokeeye--

when I was 16, and my sister was 11,

16 jidh markaan ahay, walashey waxay jidhay 11,

when the civil war broke out.

goortii dagaaladii sokeeye qarxay.

So it was the need and the people we saw

marka waxay aheyd baahida iyo dadkii aan aragnay

in the early '90s --

bilawgii 90-meeyadii--

that's what made us go back

waxa nagu dhaliyay inaan dib u laabano

and work for them.

misna aan wax ugu qabano.

PM: So what is the biggest challenge

PM: Maxay tahay carqalada ugu weyn ee hortaala

working, mother and daughter,

hooyo iyo inanteedi aay ku dhex shaqeynayaan,

in such dangerous

halista

and sometimes scary situations?

iyo xaaladahaan cabsida ahi?

HA: Yes, I was working in a tough situation,

HA: Haa, waxan ku dhex shaqeynaya xaalad adag,

very dangerous.

oo aad u halis ah.

And when I saw the people who needed me,

Misna markii aan arkay dadka ii baahan,

I was staying with them to help,

iyaga ayaan la joogay si aan u caawiyio

because I [could] do something for them.

maxa yelay waxan awooday inaan wax uun uqabto

Most people fled abroad.

Dadka badankiisa waxay u yaaceen dibada.

But I remained with those people,

Lakin aniga waxan lajoogay kuwa hadhay,

and I was trying to do something --

waxaana isku dayay inaan wax uun u qabto--

[any] little thing I [could] do.

haba yaraatee.

I succeeded in my place.

Waan ku guuleestay hoosheyda.

Now my place is 90,000 people

Iminka waxaan goobteyda ku hayaa 90,000 oo qofood

who are respecting each other,

kuwaas oo is xushmeeya,

who are not fighting.

aanan marnaba dagaalameynin.

But we try to stand on our feet,

Waxan isku daynaa inaa cirbaheena ku istaagno,

to do something, little things, we can for our people.

si aan wax ugu qabano dadkeena, haba yaraatee.

And I'm thankful for my daughters.

Aaad baana ugu mahad celinayaa gabdhaheyga,

When they come to me,

Markaye ii imaaadan,

they help me to treat the people,

waxay iga caawiyaan inaay dadka ii daweeyaan,

to help.

si ay u caawiyaan.

They do everything for them.

Wax walbo ayeey u qabtaan.

They have done what I desire to do for them.

Waxay qabteen wax walbo aan rabay inaan iyaga u qabto.

PM: What's the best part

PM: Maxay tahay qeebta ugu fiican

of working with your mother,

ee la shaqeynta hooyadaa,

and the most challenging part for you?

iyo qeebta kugu dhibka badan ?

DM: She's very tough; it's most challenging.

DM: qeebta igu dhibka badan waa; hooyadey aad bey u adagtahay.

She always expects us to do more.

Mar walbo waxay rabtaa inaa wax badan sameyno.

And really when you think [you] cannot do it,

xaqiiqdii markii aad niyad jabto oo aad quusato,

she will push you, and I can do it.

weeyna dhiira gelisa si aan u sameyno oo u gulesano

That's the best part.

Taasi waa qeebta ugu fiican.

She shows us, trains us how to do

Waay na taba bartaa oo ay na tustaa sida loo sameeyo

and how to be better [people]

misna loo noqdo dad aad u wanaagsan

and how to do long hours in surgery --

iyo sida loo sameeyo qaliin waqti badan ah--

300 patients per day,

ugu yaraan 300 oo bukaan ah maalin walbo,

10, 20 surgeries,

10 ilaa 20 qaliin ah,

and still you have to manage the camp --

sidoo kale waa inaad ogaata xerada--

that's how she trains us.

taasi waa sida aan noo taba barto.

It is not like beautiful offices here,

halkani ma ahin sidii xafiisyo qurux badan,

20 patients, you're tired.

20 bukaan waana daaleeysa.

You see 300 patients, 20 surgeries

sida aad u jeedo waa 300 oo qofood, 20 qaliin ah

and 90,000 people to manage.

iyo 90,000 qofood oo ad ogaaneysid.

PM: But you do it for good reasons.

PM: Laakin waxan u sameysaa dhan wanaag ku jiro.

(Applause)

(Sacbis)

Wait. Wait.

Su,Sug.

HA: Thank you.

HA: Mahadsanid.

DM: Thank you.

DM: Mahadsanidiin.

(Applause)

(Sacbis)

HA: Thank you very much. DM: Thank you very much.

Ha: Aaad baad u mahadsan tihii. DM: aad baad u mahadsan tihiin.