By Andra Jackson, watoday.com
Abdalla Ahmed
[Photo: Penny Stephens]
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA — FERRYING passengers around in a Melbourne taxi, Abdalla Ahmed might seem to be one more refugee dreaming of bringing out those he left behind.
But Mr Ahmed harbours a grander vision, one that has embraced an entire town in Ethiopia and inspired support from around the world.
Somalia-born Mr Ahmed’s personal dream of being a doctor was shattered when, three years into his studies in 1979, he was forced to flee on political grounds. He came to Australia in 1982 and after a humble start packing cigarettes in a factory, became a public servant.
Years later, arrivals from Ethiopia’s Somali community urged him to visit their war and drought-stricken homeland and see what might be done to ease suffering there.
Mr Ahmed’s father was born in Ethiopia, migrating to Somalia in 1943, and most of their family was still there. In 2005, Mr Ahmed went back.
At the town of Raaso, with a population of 80,000, he found “no education, no water, no hospital”. He asked what they needed most. They nominated a hospital, saying “our women are dying during labour”.
Back in Melbourne, Mr Ahmed enlisted Pastor Allan Herman, chief executive of the International Volunteer Health Network, and documentary maker David Schmidt. Filming in Ethiopia in 2006, Mr Ahmed met the country’s health minister and asked why the government could not build a hospital in Raaso.
The minister suggested he look to the Ethiopian diaspora for funds “and we will give you doctors and nurses”. Armed with a memorandum of understanding and Schmidt’s footage, Mr Ahmed returned to Australia, giving up his job and driving a taxi to support himself while he knocked on doors.
Banyule Community Health Centre, where Mr Ahmed is on the board, gave him an office and sponsorship. Mobile Mission International in Whittlesea contributed a hospital design that depended on $22,500 for materials. Mr Ahmed had the money within three weeks. So far he has raised $100,000, as well as obtaining 60 beds and medical equipment from the Austin and Warringal hospitals.
Mr Ahmed estimates another $200,000 is needed to complete the 100-bed hospital by next June, but he is optimistic – so much so that, at 51, he is even contemplating resuming medical studies, bringing two dreams together.