Apr 20 2010
Edna Adan Knighted by France
Edna Adan receives French Legion of Honor
On April 17, Edna Adan was presented the French Legion of Honor by the French Ambassador. This is France’s highest honor – grade de chevalier dans l’ordre de la Légion d’honneur. The decision to honor Edna with this title was made by French President Nicolas Sarkozy in this letter.
As noted by the Ambassador in his speech conferring this honor, Edna might have chosen to receive the medal in Paris under a golden roof but, instead, chose to receive it here at the Edna Adan Maternity Hospital:
Edna, you were awarded the Legion of Honor because of your outstanding example as a human person. I cannot say more than these two words: a Human Person with all the dignity attached to this quality. The French Republic at the top has recognized in you a person who has promoted the Human values for which the French Republic stands in the world. That is the true meaning of your recognition. Many times we are not living up to our expectations as defender of human rights but we recognize this as our duty, our special mission in the world, in international politics and everyday life. We recognize when somebody in the world raises these expectations. We recognized you.
…Everybody should be made conscious that this other end of the world, best known as the land of chaos, we call it with you: Land of Hope.
The occasion was combined with the graduation ceremony for a class of 26 newly-trained Laboratory Technicians. Of these, 19 were boys and 6 were girls. In the final examination, the top three graduating students were all girls! Given the diminished status of women in Somaliland culture, this is considered to be excellent good news!
Edna Adan speaks accepting Legion of Honor
The French ambassador went on to say:
“We want to recognize future Ednas, maybe in the assembly today. I address the young nurses and laboratory technicians or pharmacists in training here: Are you ready to follow the path opened by Mama Edna Adan Ismael?
“Are you ready to become the new Ednas?
“It’s your turn now for the sake of yourself, your own dignity, the health of your sisters and daughters, we want you to give birth to healthy children who will be the strength of Somaliland tomorrow, mothers and babies defending peace and prosperity in this region the Horn of Africa.”
We have a new page in the main web site dedicated to this occasion. You can read the speeches by both the Ambassador and by Edna Adan:
Read More > Edna Adan Awarded French Nicolas Sarkozy
Letters of Congratulation include this one from Tropical Health and Education Trust, which partners with the hospital on training activities. It was such a proud occasion for Somaliland that the national television station will present a one-hour program about it tomorrow night.
2 responses so far
What a good service this woman is doing to our nation of Somaliland.
She has achieved more recognition at abroad than any other Somaliland
Government officials. This must be a lesson to the Somaliland Govt.
The somaliland people would love to see Edna as a head of State.
May God bless this wonderful woman who is working to her country tirelessly.
Ahmed jama (Germany)
dear HOYO!!!!!!!!! EDNA WE GIVE HANDS TO WHAT YOU’RE DOING TO OUR COUNTRY MAY ALLAH GIVES A !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!AREWARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SIJUWI