Fanny Friedman

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Fanny Friedman
Born (1926-06-21) 21 June 1926 (age 96)
Other namesFrances Friedman, Fannie Friedman
Occupation(s)Physician, Politician

Fanny Friedman MBE (sometimes spelled Fannie Friedman, born Frances Friedman on 21 June 1926) a doctor and political figure in Eswatini (also known as Swaziland). Friedman was also the first woman in her country's history to hold the post of minister and first female senator in her country from 1987 to 1993. [1] [2]

Biography

Fanny Friedman practiced as a doctor in several Eswatini hospitals and participated in the works of several non-governmental organizations. She was an advocate for the strengthening of maternal health care in her country. In 1994, she wrote the foreword to the book "Contemporary Issues in Maternal Health Care in Africa". [2] [3] [4] [5]

In 1968, Friedman was appointed as Permanent Secretary (now known as Principal Secretary) in the Ministry of Health. She served as Director of Health Services and was a graduate of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. [6] She was a member of World Health Organisation (WHO) governing body and the World Health Assembly regional committee. [1] In 1975, Friedman was awarded a WHO fellowship to study public health, her MPH Programme was in Belgium for 6 months and in Holland for 6 months. [6]

She was a member of Parliament from 1983 to 1987 and a senator from 1987 to 1997. In November 1987, she was the first woman in her country's history to hold the post of minister after she was appointed head of the Ministry of Health. She left the position in 1993. [2] [3] [4]

Friedman was the first female Swazi physician who also specialised in public health as well as the first female cabinet minister in the history of her country. [1]

In 2018, Friedman was featured in an online publication “Portrait of a Swazi Woman: 50 Women, 50 Years” celebrating her achievements and contributions to Eswatnini society. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eswatini</span> Country in Southern Africa

Eswatini, officially the Kingdom of Eswatini and formerly named Swaziland, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its north, west, south, and southeast. At no more than 200 km (120 mi) north to south and 130 km (81 mi) east to west, Eswatini is one of the smallest countries in Africa; despite this, its climate and topography are diverse, ranging from a cool and mountainous highveld to a hot and dry lowveld.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Eswatini</span> Aspect of history

Artifacts indicating human activity dating back to the early Stone Age have been found in the Kingdom of Eswatini. The earliest known inhabitants of the region were Khoisan hunter-gatherers. Later, the population became predominantly Nguni during and after the great Bantu migrations. People speaking languages ancestral to the current Sotho and Nguni languages began settling no later than the 11th century. The country now derives its name from a later king named Mswati II. Mswati II was the greatest of the fighting kings of Eswatini, and he greatly extended the area of the country to twice its current size. The people of Eswatini largely belong to a number of clans that can be categorized as Emakhandzambili, Bemdzabu, and Emafikamuva, depending on when and how they settled in Eswatini.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mswati III</span> King of Eswatini since 1980

Mswati III is the king of Eswatini and head of the Swazi royal family. He was born in Manzini in the Protectorate of Swaziland to King Sobhuza II and one of his younger wives, Ntfombi Tfwala. He was crowned as Mswati III, Ingwenyama and King of Swaziland, on 25 April 1986 at the age of 18, thus becoming the youngest ruling monarch in the world at that time. Together with his mother, Ntfombi Tfwala, now Queen Mother (Ndlovukati), he rules the country as an absolute monarch. Mswati III is known for his practice of polygamy and currently has 15 wives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swazi people</span> Bantu ethnic group of Southern Africa

The Swazi or Swati are a Bantu ethnic group native to Southern Africa, inhabiting Eswatini, a sovereign kingdom in Southern Africa. EmaSwati are part of the Nguni-language speaking peoples whose origins can be traced through archaeology to East Africa where similar traditions, beliefs and cultural practices are found.

Lobamba is a city in Eswatini, and is one of the two capitals, serving as the legislative, traditional, spiritual, seat of government of the Parliament of Eswatini, and Ludzidzini Royal Village, the residence of Queen Ntfombi, the Queen Mother.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ngwenyama</span> Title of the male king of Eswatini

iNgwenyama is the title of the male monarch of Eswatini. In English, the title is sometimes translated as King of Eswatini. The iNgwenyama reigns together with the Ndlovukazi, a spiritual leadership position held by the iNgwenyama's mother or another female royal of high status. The Ndlovukati may serve as a Regent if the position of Ngwenyama is vacant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Eswatini</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in Eswatini are limited. LGBT people face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. According to Rock of Hope, a Swati LGBT advocacy group, "there is no legislation recognising LGBTIs or protecting the right to a non-heterosexual orientation and gender identity and as a result [LGBT people] cannot be open about their orientation or gender identity for fear of rejection and discrimination". Homosexuality is illegal in Eswatini, though this law is in practice unenforced. According to the 2021 Human Rights Practices Report from the US Department of State, "there has never been an arrest or prosecution for consensual same-sex conduct."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Eswatini</span>

Christianity is the dominant religion in Eswatini. The relative prevalence percentages vary by source. According to Pew Research, over 88% of the total 1.2 million population of Eswatini express Christianity to be their faith, over 0.2% express no affiliation. According to the US State Department religious freedom report of 2012, local religious leaders estimate that 90% of Eswatini's population is Christian, 2% are Muslim, while under 10% belong to other religious groups. According to the CIA World Factbook, the distribution is 40% Zionist, 20% Roman Catholic, other Christians 30%, 2% Muslim and 8% other religions. In other sources such as Clay Potts, the religious demographics are 80% Christian, and 20% Islam and Traditional Swazi religion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikhanyiso Dlamini</span> Minister of Information, Communication and Technology

Princess Sikhanyiso Dlamini is a Swazi princess and politician. She is the eldest daughter of King Mswati III of Eswatini, and is the country's current Minister of Information and Communication Technology.

Constance Simelane is a Eswatini politician who rose to become the first female Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Swaziland. Appointed to the Senate in 2001, Simelane became Minister of Education in 2003. In October 2006 Simelane was appointed Deputy Prime Minister by King Mswati III, succeeding Albert Shabangu who had died a month earlier.

HIV/AIDS in Eswatini was first reported in 1986 but has since reached epidemic proportions. As of 2016, Eswatini had the highest prevalence of HIV among adults aged 15 to 49 in the world (27.2%).

Prostitution in Eswatini is illegal, the anti-prostitution laws dating back to 1889, when the country Eswatini was a protectorate of South Africa. Law enforcement is inconsistent, particularly near industrial sites and military bases. Police tend to turn a blind eye to prostitution in clubs. There are periodic clamp-downs by the police.

Ellinah Ntombi Wamukoya was a Swazi Anglican bishop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eswatini–India relations</span> Bilateral relations

Eswatini–India relations refers to the international relations that exist between Eswatini and India. India also maintains a resident High Commission in Mbabane established on 13 August, 2019. Eswatini does not have a diplomatic mission in India.

Mariam Mint Ahmed Aicha is a Mauritanian politician. Her name is sometimes given as Mariam Mint Ahmed Aiche or Mariam bint Ahmed Aiche. From 1992 until 1994, she served as Minister of Women's Affairs; from 1994 until 1995 she was Secretary of Women's Affairs. Her father is Cheikh Ahmed Aicha, a notable of the country who made sure that his children received a very good education. She was born and raised in the City of Boutilimit known for its academics, intellectuals and senior government officials since the country's independence until today, called the cultural capital of Mauritania.

The Health in Eswatini is poor and four years into the United Nations sustainable development goals, Eswatini seems unlikely to achieve goal on health. As a result of 63% poverty prevalence, 27% HIV prevalence, and poor health systems, maternal mortality rate is a high 389/100,000 live births, and under 5 mortality rate is 70.4/1000 live births resulting in a life expectancy that remains amongst the lowest in the world. Despite significant international aid, the government fails to adequately fund the health sector. Nurses are now and again engaged in demonstrations over poor working conditions, drug stock outs, all of which impairs quality health delivery. Despite tuberculosis and AIDS being major causes of death, diabetes and other non-communicable diseases are on the rise. Primary health care is relatively free in Eswatini save for its poor quality to meet the needs of the people. Road traffic accidents have increased over the years and they form a significant share of deaths in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Jews in Eswatini</span>

The history of the Jews of Eswatini, formerly Swaziland.

Mary Mdziniso was a Swazi educator and politician. She was appointed to the Senate in 1968, becoming the country's first female member of Parliament.

Sibongile Ndlela-Simelane was Minister for Health for Eswatini from 2013 to 2018 under the government of Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini. During her time as minister she led calls for lessons from southern Africa's HIV response to be applied to malaria. She also commissioned on World TB Day in 2017 a national drug resistance survey. In 2018 she requested the arrest of a Eswatini Observer journalist who had photographed the cars of government ministers. She also commissioned new offices for the Swaziland Nursing Council.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Maslin, Anna M. (2005). Women at Work: Perspectives, Experiences and Tips. Northumbria University Press. ISBN   9781904794103.
  2. 1 2 3 "Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership". Guide2womenleaders.com. Guide2womenleaders. Archived from the original on 2017-09-09. Retrieved 2017-11-17.
  3. 1 2 Dlamini, Lomakhosi G. (2005). Socio-economic and political constraints on constitutional reform in Swaziland (PDF). Etd.uwc.ac.za.
  4. 1 2 Africa Research Bulletin: Political series. Africa Research Limited. 1987.
  5. ↑ Nasah, Boniface Tatchwenglie; Mati, J. K. G.; Kasonde, Joseph M. (1994). Contemporary Issues in Maternal Health Care in Africa. CRC Press. ISBN   9783718655601.
  6. 1 2 "WLSA – ESWATINI | Women & Law Southern Africa" (PDF). WLSA - ESWATINI. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
  7. ↑ Mbingo, Bodwa (November 3, 2018). "Women of Firsts Amongst 50 Celebrated Phenomenal Women". Observer on Saturday. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
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