DIAMOND MUSLIM WOMAN

Through all the positive and negative unforgettable moments and experiences, she still defied the odds to become a Medical Doctor. After “9 long years” of perseverance and keeping her eyes on prize, she finally graduated with an award for best student in surgery, best student in Obstetrics and gynecology and the overall best student in the academic year 2013/14 at the University of Development Studies (UDS) Medical School. In 2008, she was also awarded Poku Transport best medical student.

Let me proudly present to you our Diamond Muslim Woman for the week  Dr. Fatima Mohammed. Her tenacity is admirable. Today, let’s  celebrate her with all the kind words and well wishes we can ever speak into her life. 

She is currently a Medical officer at the accident and emergency unit, Tamale Teaching Hospital. The same place  she did her  horsemanship and also worked  for a short while back then.

After outstandingly completing her Basic school at St. Gabriel's and Presbyterian Junior High, she distinctively got admission at St Louis Senior High School in Kumasi where she also completed with an aggregate 8 in the sciences in the West African Senior Secondary Examination and this excellent performance  got her an admission at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in 2004 to persue medicine but along the line, she experienced a major setback; after 2yrs of reading basic sciences she was told UCC at that time was not accredited to offer medicine and was asked to stay and offer other science related courses instead but that moment, even at a younger age, she was determined and so the speed at which she was eager to finish pursuing her education and the timelines she personally set for herself didn’t stop her  to go and continue at University Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale in 2006. 

The time, energy, effort and money spent at UCC before the news of the medical school not being accredited came in, clearly did not deter her to opt for another option. 

She had to take a very tough decision by going back to UDS Medical School since it was accredited at that time to start from level 100 because she was determined to persue medicine.

In the midst of all this crazy struggles of changing schools and having to leave Cape Coast to all the way back in the  Northern Region to start all over, the unfortunate happened. 

It happened when she least expected.

It happened at the time she needed the person most because that person was a significant person in her life, her specially friend, her support unit and her mentor. “Allah knew best so He decided what was best for me. During that same period I was having to change school and all that, my beautiful 39 years old mother passed away. May her beautiful soul continue to rest in peace.” She sadly said.

We can only imagine the kind of emotional trauma Dr. Fatima went through at that time. Having to lose a mother is a not a pleasant feeling at all. A mothers love, attention and encouragement can’t be over empathised and at every stage of our lives especially when things are not going the way we want, their soft spoken words of encouragement, prayers and support keeps us going. Unfortunately for Dr. death robbed her off those moment with her mum at the most crucial stage of her journey in perusing greatness.

In her own words “It wasn’t  the normal blow but a very big blow and a very difficult time,  it wasn't an easy road but alhamdullillah alaa kuli Hal. That period was very challenging. I often skipped lectures because I was completely drained and didn't understand why I had to go through all these. But Allah knows best. I got my strength back soon enough and continued to work hard coupled with prayers.” 

She was born in Saudi Arabia because her dad once worked there. Married with 2 amazing boys, combining motherhood and my type of career  is story for another da but it's a great blessing she said and laughed.

She’s a practising Muslim and Aside her Medical job, she’s runs a medical supplies business she started while in the medical school so she’s an entrepreneur. 

In the year 2003/2004, when they first moved to Accra she spent part of her growing up at Accra Newtown but for only a year. 

She advised, as women we should never ever give up on our dreams no matter how tough it gets. We should just trust Allah and put in the work and we will achieve our goal. 

Dear Dr. Fatima thank you very much for sharing your story with us. It’s inspiring and we have learnt a lot. 

I personally have learnt that “ tough times comes to toughen the tough ones”, once you make up your mind to go after your dreams, chase it with all the energy and speed in you for time waits for no one, challenges might pop up by all means but that is also part of the growing processes, look at them with a positive mind and let it make you  better a person. 

We shouldn’t t give up and change our  minds when things are not going as planned. Great things are not easily gotten. 

She could have easily given up on her future ambition when UCC suggested  should reads other science related subjects instead of Medicine, even when her mum passed, she was downhearted but still accepted the fact that “Allah knows best.” She mastered the courage and aimed at still making herself and  late mum proud because all the mum wanted was for her to chase her dream of becoming a Medical Doctor.

She stopped after 2 years, went to a different school, she conquered and emerged the overall best school in her year group with all the challenges. 

Often times, we feel and think, the decisions we make are the best forgetting that we decide and God decides so if things don’t turn the way we want, we shouldn’t give up or do blame games. She turned her challenges into aspirations. 

She is a big deal and a great role model to the young girls in our Muslim communities especially in the Northern part of Ghana were girl child education is not a priority. A early at an early age will be married off instead being educated and this shuts down a lot of dreams.

A region where a girl with ambition have to be overly determined and passionate, break the norm and change the narrative in a positive way to achieve her dream. 

Dr. Fatima, we cherish and adore you and we pray you continue to touch the lives of your patients with your beautiful personality. 

Here’s to you 5 Diamonds 💎💎💎💎💎. Your perseverance to attain the doctors honour was indeed well achieved and a calling from God. 

Writer: Adizah Kuburah Braimah

kuburahdiamonds@blogspot.com

@kuburah Diamonds 

adizakuburah@live.com

#Diamond Woman of the week #muslim woman #Doctor #educated #learned #Medicine #hospital #woman #strong woman #phenomenal woman #woman of substance #role model #great woman #female achiever #write2speak #speak2change #write2educate #mother #wife #UDS #UCC #medical institutions #public assert #Ghana #Tamale #Northern region #Tamale Teaching Hospital #medical doctor #muslim woman making it #muslim women achievers #kuburah Diamonds #blogger #blog #feminism #empowerment