Halima Adan – Taking Charge
Halima Adan Ahmed was in class four when her family moved from Nyeri to Isiolo. It was her father’s decision mostly. A strongly cultured Somali man, he was determined to raise his children in a location where they would learn their Garre mother-tongue. Her father stayed on in Nyeri for work as Halima, her mother and her younger siblings traveled the 140 kilometer journey north.
Everything in Nyeri was different, from the climate to the culture and eventually, the family’s financial stability. When the cost of living scaled, there would be days when the finances for daily consumables were scarce. There would be times when Halima and her siblings would have to stay home having been sent away from school for lack of fees. And then there would be that one time when Halima’s mother was nearing her due date and had to be admitted at Isiolo General Hospital. This would be the time that young Halima would find her calling.
With her mother in hospital and her father miles away, it was up to Halima to ensure the house was in order. She took on the role fiercely and even spared time to prepare and take to her mother a home cooked meal. While the meal – a serving of rice – was undercooked, Halima’s mother was impressed by and grateful for her effort.
In 1994, with financial support from her uncle, Halima was admitted to Garbatulla High School – one of Isiolo’s top secondary schools. Her guardian’s aid blurred the doubts she had initially had about continuing her education. In Garbatulla, Halima’s caregiving nature was evident from the moment she stepped through the school’s gates. She fondly remembers her helping hand, ensuring that her fellow students who had taken ill sought medical assistance. Four years later, she was done with secondary schools with minimal disruptions. Ready to see what she could do next, Halima moved into her uncle’s home in Mombasa. The plan was to help her aunt with the kids but there were other avenues waiting for the young girl from Isiolo.
In Mombasa, Halima was offered a chance to study nursing at Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC). The opportunity was so sweet that it evoked nostalgia – from Isiolo when Mama was unwell, and with her classmates in Garbatulla. Nursing did seem like the right fit for her, or she for it. She joined the Machakos campus of KMTC and once again her uncle stepped in to educate her. Sadly, in her first year of school, he passed away. The turn of events was devastating to Halima but she affirmed to finish school for his sake and for the life she was slowly chartering for herself. After two and a half years of nursing school, Halima actively sought a job. Luck seemed to be a by stander around her because when she walked into Bishop Kioko Catholic Hospital clutching her printed resume, she was immediately offered a job. She had gone with only expectation and was surprised to learn the hospital was in fact seeking nurses. The next day, Halima showed up to work bright and early.
Halima’s time at the missionary hospital gave her access to hands on experience as well as establish meaningful relationships. In 2002, a job ad in the newspaper got her attention. The government was seeking nurses for postings in different districts. Halima took her chances and applied. She was invited for interviews in Embu and Garissa where she strongly advocated to be posted in Machakos where she hoped to further her nursing education. In June that year, with a strong recommendation from her supervisor at Bishop Kioko, Halima started working as a private ward nurse at Machakos Level 5 Hospital. The job came with a good salary and encouraged her to work tirelessly in order to send enough money back home. At work, her caregiving spirit was present every day. Her enthusiasm for work and her investment in the patients’ well-being earned her favour with her patients and her colleagues. And as time went by, the desire to return to school for further studies was still important to her. The opportunity came between 2009 and 2011. Halima returned to KMTC to earn her Diploma in nursing.
In 2014, the Kenya National Union of Nurses was formed. Halima was elected as the branch secretary. The next year she was awarded a scholarship by Megascope Healthcare to study a higher diploma. She looked no further and joined KMTC once more.
At work she was assiduous and benevolent. At the union she was stern and exercised an activist role. And at school, she showed no sign of slowing down. In 2017 it was back to the books and this time beyond the +254 borders. Halima joined Noida National Labour Institute in India where she studied labour and employee relations.
In 2019 the county government of Machakos was planning to make changes to the ministry of health. Halima was a strong contender for the Director Nursing Services position. Once again, Halima submitted an application. In August Halima relinquished her role at the union of nurses and in November took on her new leadership role. Today she is third in the hierarchy of the department of Health and Emergency Services and reports to the Chief Officers for health in Machakos County. She is among eight directors in the county, and under her leadership are over 1200 able nurses within the nine sub counties in Machakos.
From Halima we see the beauty of hope, we understand the positive outcome of hard work and we are reminded that there is no limit to learning.
Asante Madam Halima for showing us that the sky is indeed the limit!
#KeHealthWorkers
