RG 21.4.2017.10.31 Dr Osman.mp3
Thu, 08/08 12:50PM
77:46
SUMMARY KEYWORDS
somalia, people, day, health, children, absolutely, mogadishu, community, area, disease,
minnesota, medicine, language, left, difficulty, good, finished, topia, walk, hospital
SPEAKERS
Kathleen Clark, Dr. Osman (... Show more
RG 21.4.2017.10.31 Dr Osman.mp3
Thu, 08/08 12:50PM
77:46
SUMMARY KEYWORDS
somalia, people, day, health, children, absolutely, mogadishu, community, area, disease,
minnesota, medicine, language, left, difficulty, good, finished, topia, walk, hospital
SPEAKERS
Kathleen Clark, Dr. Osman (Harare), Fadumo Mohamed
K
Kathleen Clark 00:00
Thank you for joining us here for this oral history project. If you could just say your name,
introduce yourself.
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
00:08
My name is Dr. Osman Mahmoud Ahmed--Harare. And my nick nickname is quicker than
my official name, therefore, commonly they call me Osman Harare.
K
Kathleen Clark 00:23
Wonderful.
F
Fadumo Mohamed 00:25
And my name is Faduma Mohamed
K
Kathleen Clark 00:27
And Faduma will be helping us with translation today. My name is Katie Clark. I'm an
assistant professor of nursing here at Augsburg University, and I just have to make sure
you can send to be interviewed and then having the recorded interview stored here at
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Augsburg University, which will be made available to the public.
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
00:46
Yes.
K
Kathleen Clark 00:51
women, but men will be helping us with translation today. My name is Katie Clark. I'm an
assistant professor of nursing here at Augsburg University. And I just have to make sure
you can send to be interviewed and then having the recorded interview stored here at
Augsburg University, which will be made available to the public. Yes. Wonderful. Alright, so
can you just tell me a little bit about where you were born and what year you were born
in?
K
Kathleen Clark 00:57
Wonderful. Alright, so can you just tell me a little bit about where you were born and what
year you were born in.
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
01:02
I born 1943 in Beledweyne, this is central Somalia, small city, not a small city but a big city
in Somalia. One of the big farmers region of the Somalia located in central Somalia and
the one the one of the rivers of the Somalia past there. Therefore I was born there and I
grow there from my study. And I finished elementary school, Quran school there.
K
Kathleen Clark 01:35
So can you describe a little bit about your family to me?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
01:40
My family. I lost my father when I was less than four years. But my mother and my brother
This helped me to grow up. I had serious brothers and sisters, four brothers and two sisters
and my mother, I was a younger one and I grew there life was difficult but the life of that
time is better than try now. And everything was very, very cheap and life was very, very
supportive. Therefore I studied there I started the study Quran, school, Quran I finished
Quran all day and go to the regular school. Day school that time was administrated by
Italian government. Therefore I learn all day, from elementary to high school in Italian
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language
K
Kathleen Clark 02:46
In what language?
F
Fadumo Mohamed 02:48
Italian.
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
02:49
Italian.
K
Kathleen Clark 02:49
Italian? Oh, Italian.
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
02:52
Therefore, after I finished high school, I get a scholarship from government of Somalia to
donated from Russian Soviet Union. Not Russia but Soviet Union that time. And I was
there in Russia, in Moscow in year and a half. I finished medical school 1969.
K
Kathleen Clark 03:25
And what led you to want to be a medical doctor?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
03:30
Huh?
K
Kathleen Clark 03:30
Why did you want to be a medical doctor?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
03:32
Yeah. Look, I when I studied in the elementary school I saw a lot of children who have
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suffered absolutely in different disease, especially infection disease, parasites diseases,
and I think so maybe I can help these people and I decided what profession I will be to uh,
maybe I go to the Medical School and I selected that time to become pediatrician.
Therefore in Russia, when I finished medical school and I specialize in a pediatrician
around come back to the Somalia to help Somalia, children. And I worked 10 years in
Somalia, different areas different position. And after 10 years, I was back to the Italy for
three years for a specialization of the tropical infectious disease. And again, I go back to
the Somalia and I will get there until Civil War.
K
Kathleen Clark 04:45
Now going back, do you mind telling me what happened to your father?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
04:50
You know, he died from natual--
K
Kathleen Clark 04:52
From natural causes? Okay. Okay. How about what was medical school like for you, were
most of the other students Russian or normal students from all around the world?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
05:03
Look when I was in Russia this year first time I go out into Somalia and I was young, must
be 19 years. And the, the most difficulty first difficulty I encountered was the Russian
language is little bit differently from Latin language, especially some or, for example, the
word of the edge in Italian and in English too, and they weren't of the ash. And they were
two of the, in the as differently in Italian a in Russian language for example. They R in
session is P, the letter P looks like the Russian is R in Russian is N. The B, like boy, in Russian
is V was very very difficult to adapt I studied to Olivia to superior language in this Lord.
Now I can change in their mind was very very difficulty to first time but the Russian
language is better than English for treating because you're write when you listen like
Italian language like Arabic language. Only English language is difficulty because every
time you say one word or you write something else but Italian, Arabic, and Russian, you
write what you listening absolute that they have on you can spell it but the Russian
language is very very difficult to sell nowadays. this change of the word and they have
new words. I never see them was very, very difficult difficulty
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D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
07:09
In my faculty I was pediatrician and difficulty was 120 people only I was foreigness--
K
Kathleen Clark 07:21
You were what?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
07:22
The foreign student.
F
Fadumo Mohamed 07:25
He was the only foreign student.
F
Fadumo Mohamed 07:25
for an only foreign studio only dish
K
Kathleen Clark 07:25
Only foreign student?
K
Kathleen Clark 07:25
Only foreign student?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
07:27
Only there and almost the 95% was girl.
K
Kathleen Clark 07:33
Wow, so how did you get connected with medical school in Russia?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
07:39
20 people they divided two classes. Every class was group was 10 people. And my group
was three boy and seven a girl but the whole Faculty of was 120 people let's rally was very
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very good people and I don't have any complain any problem absolute that they helped
me some time to study out to understand something and especially the first two years
after that are in the actual language very well. I finished but all the secrecy of difficult a
medical school right there is medical school CCF and when year and a half I spent to
Latin language
K
Kathleen Clark 08:38
Wow. Yeah. Does your family have a lot of money that you were able to do that? Or is that
something that was kind of common?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
08:44
It was meant to be where we normally spend the avian $1 or am I steady I normally
spending even $1 this is worship the bed I say every month when I'm there's there's to
leave us enough Absolutely.
F
Fadumo Mohamed 09:06
So cool that they actually get scholarships to go study abroad. And this is through the
government relationship between the two countries and on top of that they get paid.
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
09:15
I spent my study in the Sasha in Italy in $1. This is why I am putting all my effort to help my
community wonderful because I let him and the name of the Somali community what I
am.
K
Kathleen Clark 09:35
So can you tell me more about your wife, or if you were married or your family, your
immediate family, your children?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
09:47
Hey, maybe only one wife. We need all the 47 years we have only seven children. Me my
wife and I we meet when wise in the high school in Somalia before I go to the mosque
University she waited almost seven years and when I come back we marry me Still we live
together and she finished to high school and she was a mystery school there in Somalia
and she speaks Arabic very well I'm Italia to we live with our still together. We have seven
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children and now we have four current children
K
Kathleen Clark 10:43
What can you tell me more about what the medical practice was like in Somalia?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
10:49
Oh, look, the difference is medical health system in Somalia and the United States is
completely different. In Somalia the hell is pretty completely as free. The people go there
until now. I think no need any insurance. Not have no need any parameter cash, no need
no appointment, everybody won't have some problem to the hospital for delivery for
surgery for operation. All this was free. The best thing in Somalia was the health and
education was free. The hospital they have known was sophisticated specially the rural
area and the smallest district but in the capital of the show was very, very good hospital
and we had a non MMR or AT scan but we not had that. Absolutely. But I think we had
last very nice and a practical was to go to the morning to the clinic and sit there and the
people they tell lumber detail in a in a queue and we see every day 30 people 35 people
absolutely. And these people the VC turn they can medicine and they go back.
K
Kathleen Clark 12:26
What was their primary health concerns typically? What were their usual health concerns?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
12:33
Oh yeah, in Somalia rarely their health concern is more about encrypting diseases. caster
and right especially for children bronchitis parasite is same time we have outbreak of the
Calera it defies you sometime we had some is Polish visually We are the small books bad
time and you'll notice Somalia was last person in the world who had small Booker's so as
in Somalia 1997 in 1977 therefore the gated that they only did three years of campaign to
educate small focus and the health system was very good but they were very difficult and
we don't cover and we begin in when we come back from fashion the medical doctor is so
many medical doctor he was almost about 40 people only come Oh come differently
country everybody knows everybody has his system at different system for others but we
get a common language we help it a salad a Somalia but system was very very good and
the people who I appreciate our difficulties although there is when I come back and
started to walk I was away yet in Mogadishu and after that they transferred me from
Mogadishu to pilot when when I bought your home country yeah my own place when I
bought and I work at this two years and have it as a medical doctor and everybody know
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me there so I study and I born here and I was very very happy to help I did very good job
that I developed the hospital I create a new hospital I create a new TP Hospital in Bella
Wayne who has not been there before me AN to get some system because I had a car
accident there's a lot of car accident in some Malia in Halloween area because the people
got go Supercell Villa afternoon from Mogadishu and they drive all night and when they
go near near always they have some accident. I remember in one week I had three car
accident almost 40 people then after that I go to the government government area and I
said no I must stop to think because all my hospital is full of the broken papers and I
created some low to stop midnight on the car before they come in this is the accident the
area between Paraguay and Polo property where sometimes get a car stupid a car old
midnight no car bus there they stop there they till sleep here you go Monica for me. Unless
absolutely it is the accident very very well.
K
Kathleen Clark 16:16
And you also did some political work around neonatal tetanus Did you as well?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
16:22
Yeah does it noon it that this this is when I woke up in Mogadishu when I come to temple
that way that has faded again to the put me in the head of the infection disease hospital
and that was very very difficult to because every day they bring me shy seekers they are
seven days with no not allocators hours various sad because Europe can save because
they tell that is very very little or very very little disease and this happened why because
all children who are born out of the hospital the delivery from traditional bed attentive
said traditional midwife for work in the area and they use on day one knife they have the
knife everybody use for that and things yeah and every body good that dive that dead
thumbs and I remember one lady she could three consecutive years jazz who did for 10
years after that I said rarely to do something because I know come so I'm not gonna leave
whether what I did I collected 85 midwife from Mogadishu I asked unit Jeff to help me to
pay this midwife for two months and I treated them septic antiseptic how to work and ice
and I ordered your chief midwife kit David bring midwife good Very good. Very good.
midwife good. And I get this for two months and I teach how to prevent infection disease
like tetanus and every other thing I teach them which Barragan a woman they can help I
tell them the sign of the nama the people who have enemy that we will have some
complication and I asked them every message Miss get vaccine for tetanus they good day
my wife different in a woman to the MC HAJ and take a vaccination another fairly still
existed a tetanus after that but I reduce it or with secrecy percentage Sally very very wet
girl yeah. Yeah Really good. That's very, very successful project. Absolutely.
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K
Kathleen Clark 19:24
So what were some of like the healing methods are that people use in the community like
I know about black seed that's used here, but can you tell me more What did some of
the...?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
19:37
This is a traditional medicine and traditional practice in so money is very common. Rarely
was very very difficult to adapt. For example, when I was in Somalia I have deal with this
TV politician because especially the children when they have gastroenteritis and the
vomiting the area before they bring to the hospital they take this child to the traditional
person and he was he too Oh he take out to hear the call a co this a non truth but they
have the the corner and hide it Granda the approaches coming to it they take out or what
they do they cut here and the umbilical area and they said he could discharge evil eyes I
and I'm they think some something but there is it did the evil eye for me I mean from
death.
K
Kathleen Clark 21:09
So you're saying they would do that to the child they take some skin off from his
abdomen?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
21:13
Yeah They cut it they take this one
K
Kathleen Clark 21:21
And they take the incisors and then..?
F
Fadumo Mohamed 21:27
Basically what they're saying is like because the child on deck those are the future that
like the new brand new teeth that are supposed to come out before they come out that's
what's making the child sick yeah so they used to get it out.
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
21:42
They say this is this and this is a bad thing yeah after that I saw an evil child who have
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gastroenteritis directed they could they're almost a four hour six hours this and after the
tapering to me to the clinic director is Olga the very very late sometime I did to idealism
deal with that additional to take a look please police union three job to close to the clinic
after clinic you do what you want. But because I say that and reason to support the
hesitation the children they are vomiting or they have their area they lose everything they
have in body and JDL come very very dangerous stated sometimes the children died for
that either station
K
Kathleen Clark 22:48
For that what?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
22:49
Yeah the dehydration. Was difficulty to deal because the other thing this community they
believe that person then you this if you deal with that number they come to you and they
lost the children or the elderly people everything because they saw these people long long
time traditional one and you are come from outside there I am Dr nobody no you
therefore what you must deal with that and correct that people therefore I am corrected
this that additional midwife that edition of this paper and I always was in the community
rallied to helping police Let's go together Let's walk together Absolutely. But you don't do
something dangerous to the life of a child you can do nothing therefore the gestation unit
can do nothing for when Mr do severe Marty dysentery are you doing you're not good
with your beliefs sent to the hospital after that you can do something.
K
Kathleen Clark 24:04
So what can you tell me more about the use of black seed?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
24:09
The black seed is traditional additional so Molly when this is all the muslim countries use
this black seed. What they are doing good they had they did this help and this the power
of the galaxy is only support the immune system of the body therefore they call this Biloxi
three every disease you know this only the black seeds support the immunity of the body
K
Kathleen Clark 24:46
So switching gears a little bit Can you tell me a little bit like about when you're the
Director of Public Health and Somalia? What did your daily work life look like? And what
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kind of challenges would Did you encounter?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
24:59
When I was director of the Community Health Department I was Director of Community
Health the birth image Minister of Health this a national level from 1981 until 1990 before
the Civil War or Mr. TS I was def under my department he was different the section of the
health persona mental health mth we call was the disease section was immunization was
prime healthcare was health education was malaria or this was my department at for
example Ashley she worked with me 10 years she was head of the gel health journey is
very very difficulty job because to implement a monetization you must have the coaching
system of course a system where you keep the vaccine deficiency must be always in the
call area and I created a very very good conscious culture and system in there Mogadishu
was the best in the East Africa culture and system because it created very very big
building gun I asked I asked get some support from UNW and the building control master
they spent one $120,000 to build that and the pink all culture everything generators and
was very very good but they had a difficult to us some district no electricity at all and their
children you must vaccinate and was my pic difficult at all but I asked who doping sola for
free freezer is walk with a non electricity but solar one and I put almost the 15th district
that system to Somaliathe other part of the web not in our area we use it to vaccinate
children using call box and go there to vaccinate he was very very difficulty but the reality
was very very cool system my stuff was almost a 360 paper or it Somalia I managed some
time ago to travel for one to week outside of this Mogadishu to see what they are doing
almost a pill all day region of the semi only three region I have not been there yet and was
my plan was to see that region 1991 but the Civil War come out but the rest I went there
absolutely wow I'm learning a lot
K
Kathleen Clark 28:34
So what was--can you tell me more about the Civil War?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
28:42
says that one still not believe what why why why we had to go to war.
K
Kathleen Clark 28:54
What was the conditions that made you want to leave versus stay?
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D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
29:00
Look, at one of them. They broke out the Civil War. I know they've already show about one
year because I know believe what's going on what's going there absolutely. I stayed with
the show all 91 1991 I was in Mogadishu after that I see this not finish and I move it from a
big show to the smile was there eight months again still the Civil War and after one year
and eight months in Somalia Stewart I decided to live why I decided to live because I
created when I was in Maya I saw a lot thousand hundred thousand children with panda
Trisha with gosh Of course not asthma Sephora diseases I asked me on a GF do some
feeding centers they're very open feeding centers one created one center on one very
very big bus for 1000 children to fit the unity of healthy family did good job the created
the distributed building the innovation the world world for order and everything and when
we set up on we need open that morning five us come night time and took over that with
gun when they come morning I see the children out and just to repeat five people the
inside this is the you said we liberated our this area What do you mean liberated from
where you come?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
31:07
No. I said please I need help these children and we feed here and everything is here well
why do children they tell me remember they still they tell me Are you BUUU by this center
Are you still friends from the center and I said I come by your descent that this
government dissenters you unit Jeff built How are you can buy me familiar OI how are you
confident even I offer them we take you as a welcome people to support us define the
security and we pay every month something but by for me you descend there or rent from
your disruptor with the same possibilities of go out. I believe you look these children they
are dying for malnutrition they are then the disease please Hellman one is can you see
this? You see this children? I see it is not children. I see this like I am what I am like an
empty I like the end and he opened it is the gun gun over these children Papa Papa Papa
Papa Papa. And they run out that day I decided to leave some money early. I remember
that day. After one week I Lyft that's very, very sad. story very pretty sad.
K
Kathleen Clark 33:01
So when you say you left What did you just did you have a car that you went in? Or were
there like vans bringing people to Kenya or how did that--
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
33:10
No, I come in every day did to bring jobs and they when they go to the eyes of board to
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help with help other people and I have gone back to the Nairobi in Nairobi almost 25
days after that I got some job from a nonprofit organization from Saudi Arabia who
helping catastrophe Jean Mandera, Kenya and I was there Madeira almost two years and
half refer to them and they paid me very well $800 but last residency our food and
everything I take my children different areas from the pin intelligence area some was in
Mogadishu yet some and I collect all my children in Nairobi the liver till 1995
K
Kathleen Clark 34:24
So when you lived in the refugee camp and you were working there What did it look like
as far as was there like buildings that had apartments or were the actual tents like What
did it look like where you lived?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
34:35
Live in this building? This only they push? You know the proof they need of the ship? Bosko
Allah Allah
F
Fadumo Mohamed 34:48
Oh you mean the so it's a hut
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
34:51
they had like a Porsche Porsche
F
Fadumo Mohamed 34:54
[speaking in Somali]
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
35:00
Yeah yeah, very good very very good condition wrong water no nothingthe children died
when I was there when I tested their legacy the children did every day for Mrs. This month
Trisha I'm fairly I did very good job to get radicalized the Arabic people are they showed
you want to bring me with sugar and oil and I created a what we call a high energy milk a
mixed sugar milk and this a very very good words for men malnutrition children. This a
very high energy milk and other things. I created some mixed a call your mics DAI mixed
rice, corn, beans, sugar and oil. And they did some the cook a support like that bush and
this a very very good nutrition thing to really did after that. The other Belgium people
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come they come they leave that they did some water there. Otherwise they will be very
good but they pick the forbidden was very disaster. One very disaster one.
F
Fadumo Mohamed 36:41
These are the people who are coming from Somalia there for Geez.
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
36:45
Did you come from Somalia? Was there 50,000 people?
K
Kathleen Clark 36:51
So did you have access to medications and such to give people when you were there?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
36:55
Yeah. They had a question. We had the bidding for them to the Arabia. They built him of
condition. Volunteers. They come they bring medicine. And we had very good medicine
and rare every flu we need for the decision.
K
Kathleen Clark 37:13
So how did you end up in Minnesota?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
37:20
When I want to close that refugee camp in 1994 I come back to the Nairobi. I decided to
move to Topeka because they said nonprofit GMO in Kenya and WAUM they said if every
if someone go back to the Somalia we pay the ticket and to them to either but what what
do you want, but not Richie born in Kenya and 1995 I left match to the topia. I tell them I
go to the Somalia and I selected both Burmese very, very posh part of the Somalia
overhead Giza the Nia of the topia. And I said I'm one dish. I've been there for walking and
I know the area but my aim was not there. My aim was to the topia and they took me all
my family by AF to Barbara from Berber athletic scarf to the podium. And they give me
the HG person they commit they give a $20 unless it was eight people at $40 and they
said bye bye you're in Somalia. The biggest day I take my children and go to database
was Chicken Tikka. Tikka Tikka very, very hard, very not. I left again to the desert lower
and I was defeated about 10 days. After 10 days I left again for them to the Ababa. I was in
that server. I go to the Minister of Health utopia. He said I am a medical doctor so money
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and my come here and I want to walk day by spirit good people and they send me oh you
have your diploma. Medical dental like that. said yes. And I shall definitely made the
printer and they took my to come in to the port of the medical doctors after mass they
called me back and said you can take give me a license to work any topia where I want
one, welcome the Minister of Health take this one. I'm free. Or if you want open there you
are private you are free. is still I have that license. That's it Okay thank you.
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
40:11
Therefore when I left I go back to the GG to do some documentation. And one night I was
in hotel and I must go early morning about five o'clock. by bus for particularly that she got
to the bar and midnight. I come out to the to the toilet the toilet the toilet difference room
is out. And when I come out around the throne some sick person come out the other room
with night. Disability recovery stood it was that's my summary when when I went to the
restroom I go in and I close the door. I actually did OB staff I wish other people come out
and they took there was one so many who have some mental Berlin and they put again
nice throne. I think they're about half hour after again I come there I come there at the
door is when you open it This makes room and again this one come out. I get I get my
room and I go in and I close unused Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba here's it karate everything.
Mamma mia what's going this Mr. Rob Lowe and I must Lyft five look. I sit there after one
hour I sleep. I sleep when I wake up eight o'clock the personification past Lyft dish after
that that's it okay I go tomorrow I go to the city centers for breakfast. After that, I hear it
so my the American lady who are in charge of the show for G is coming today for
sponsorship who have sponsorship. She will be see and she can help punchy have three
o'clock meeting there your end building this out of the city.
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
43:00
I had sponsorship for my sister who was in Atlanta at that time. The sponsorship I have
been there my birth. I come back to the hotel, and I come out that's okay. Maybe I go
there. I go there three o'clock. I showed them my sponsorship. And I said this I get when I
was in Dharavi sponsorship, but they still do not started to employ a process and I come
back and I come to it topia to here and I have this webinar she asked me okay. She did
photocopy and she said, I go back to the Nairobi. If the file you are in with your sister's
name, this will be okay. Otherwise I don't come to help. Okay. And she distributed me the
phone to fail. And she told me come me 10 here where she asked me where you are. I said
it as Roma at UCLA. And she tells me you're competing here. Yes, yes. And she's telling me
bring me here or interview. If everything is okay, when I go back there I did that one I feel
that phone on I come back to the server. I take all my children to the ggV interview I put
the application all my story. I finish medical schooling and education everything. What
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was funny, the person who interviewed me was Russian American. I want to see really got
Dr. O'Keefe she used to be considered a Russian a few years we are the change of the
English language professional. Okay, he helped me to absolutely pick up the bruises and
he told me come may 20 back here for a last interview that was a parameter interview
and he put very very good report on me and I will I know go back to the survive stay there
and 20 May I built the interview the other person to get reporters right that person and he
asked me to question only because in the Monday show I have interested here some
bullets come through my throat yeah and hit me here
K
Kathleen Clark 46:09
In your left side?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
46:11
Yeah, This left side and he asked me to put it here because he didn't dare to lift him up
like that everything is fit into what I plan was very sustainable. That's good. That's it come
27th for result in me all was in me 10 may 20 may 27. I come back to me and the killer
musician come for health screening. You go to America Wow. I go back to the echo in
West that's me August we did a health screening everything September I come to Atlanta
I know I'm planning to come to United States absent now when I left it from Nairobi from
Kenya as I move with phenomenal it took it mirror with us over to work day
K
Kathleen Clark 47:25
So can you tell me when you got shot was that was that during the Civil War you were just
in the wrong?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
47:31
Yes during the Civil War day once Mogadishu everybody was pilot every word day and
night? Absolutely. I know what one morning I come Oh my god. Angela to have breakfast
look I was sitting on the table I took that idea like that and pull it from there well I think
my height of the hit here and of the death hit by a choose that was not broken but the
tech is a part of the meat here very very difficulty I didn't mean to not you know go down
wherever it is Civil War everywhere. But I came by in my home every day first aid I need it.
Absolutely. And I think Tim single and but since he can almost a two week and of course
was swelling but broken bone. Absolutely.
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K
Kathleen Clark 48:44
So can you tell me how did you end up in Minneapolis coming from Atlanta?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
48:51
I've learned iOS one year. The Cleamons is very good. They're very he had a very nice but
one of my son who come before me here he would live here he said Bob is very good here
and the system is better than Atlanta because in Atlanta when we was all Mr. Five months,
they cut health insurance. Safety you must walk my wife must walk mommy they got a
headache children see and they might send send me please you come here because the
people the the health is the administration and the demonstration at different people
they are helping the people. They don't have any insurance and I think after my writers fell
from Atlanta to Minnesota, Payless in Eagan, living in Eagan, come I come I London 1996
and I come Minnesota 1997 September September when I was in resort health insurance
and they give you some cash but they tell me you must find work All right here we are me
I'm okay. If you get insurance on his assistant I can find book I'm the enemy to find work
and one day they take me to the factory of the hoodoo medicine there when I got there
they will be they put me at the machine with the cover the bottle of the syrup your cover
some plastic bottle you cover some plastic bottles for technician and all day well I knew I
was there two days early I didn't know you know must quit you must walk otherwise you
will know what we can assistant attend to what they can do.
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
51:23
The other thing was is it a journal and I saw you base your know your base Yeah. I get
some part time job from 10 o'clock to 12 o'clock four hours they pay $8 per hour Okay,
very good for them 10 to 12 to 12 o'clock for our this and when I live in the center of their
ups in Eagan is not far from death very good Give me one we can have to finish I will walk
every single day put here some computers and you must scan every mile away to go and
everything to put here on the way finish okay one way can have to be very nice but I don't
know it's coming out when I finished over digitas they take me someplace euro this trailer
big trailer on the empty trailer there some machine but in the package you mistake
everything but in the trailer this this is very very long but do not take any the youth must
act can protest and when you are doing this their machine is running and over everything
they come in one after one and they follow the machine you're mixing in a row you
remember relay and you remember this was very very cool Yes. That the call in Minnesota
was all Mr. 25 meanness great IUR put this really sweet yeah so I did Yes Really? I was my
sister and I remember even I put everything nice Nothing worse I go by your work for hours
I go home driven universe conceived wherever you come like this type of we just know said
if I quit they could have insurance everything but what they can do was they fired me I
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don't quit but they fired me because I did some regulation if they if you're fired you have a
chance but if you quit you do not have chance. One day I put without scanning to
repackage it and someone come from the center of it they see what you are doing they
run buddy with you Only you there LR machine but they see everything you are doing and
someone come here said you did in five minutes five Frank think if you do other one other
time we fire you okay bye bye sit there and tell the supervisor look the police what they
are doing this people okay that night the finishing the second night I come back that
supervisory fear fear face job because if I do something and she doesn't drive me the fire
has but as he she put some think in the machine is coming now he's looking but they know
show AICF and I put that in put dish and she called me come here you are fire me Thank
you sir. I tell him, thank you so much.
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
56:14
And I go home and I go learn the next morning to the welfare people I said I lost my job I
said why they fire me why you're not in a good system without knowledge. Okay, we
finally get a job from either Port St you're not disappearing Good job. You take this cash.
There's a you take that cash dash Wow, different cars different model for five minutes dish
shrink cash that I get distributed the Mises Amai to the Department of Health. Hennepin
everything and Department of Health have been made it through it by occurs. And when
they called me for the monument medical centers, they come here for an interview. And I
was there to interview me. And they give me job criticism elevation and focus. I finish I left
my job of the train crash 16 July and ice tested 17 to lie to the Hennepin Medical Center
only when the second day. Job good death a living here in 2008.
K
Kathleen Clark 57:46
So what did a typical day look like when you were working? What was a typical typical
day like for you there? And what were some of the barriers patients were
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
57:56
good they hear me because they have said it very, very difficult quality because the
system in Somalia and honey here was differently. The people they don't understand what
is medical insurance. They don't understand what's prime Healthcare's they don't
understand what's appointment. And they made a point in 10 people number they come
that day. And they come second day. They people have some insurance, and this hospital
not accept that insurance. And the person company and why they not accept my
insurance was that difficulty because there was not a lot of Donnelly on this forum begin in
Somalia, Minnesota. And they have very difficult to therefore it to navigate the health
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system to help disseminate to navigate the health system and so money explain the
difference. We shouldn't see. They explained the primary health they expand upon the
mentee. And I did a call the day before the appointment it to people to remember them. I
created in any bed Medical Center. I tell look, we're Somali, we're not after these
parameters. You get a lot of people in the merchants therefore you must get a walk in
clinic. And I could decorated the medicine clinic clinic where I work almost all day. The
people come with they have some problem dish in the center of the emergence.
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
59:39
Past very good. day like as a day when I retired that they said why you go while you are
now the Somali 11 years they live in English there, we had a lot of interpreters left for that I
can work every morning here. That was a very good job. But also them like navigate I
think some time doctor is to explain the day community test our how we think so Molly,
absolutely. The medical director, there were two different days this way I will teach. You
can talk with a person one day your have a fundamental person, because there's a family
communities are very nice people. But they must trust you, if you want to take your
advice. If they not trust you, they knew it take you at a price. Therefore you must air you
did their trust. And I teach you some language that they do when they pay. But can we set
so low? For so. And we went in this tool what? They help you this person therapy, you
know, it was very nice.
K
Kathleen Clark 61:04
So why did you tell me more about the East Africa health project? Why did you start that?
And what are your hopes for work there?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
61:14
In 2004, I started designing Big East African help or a check to the community because I
still do some education on the non walk in any medical center but do some education on
to the community to talk do some seminars to to to the media Absolutely. For that they
created this number of organization and Dakota my friend Dr. Price who helped me we
work together and we decided to do this don't do much education to the community.
K
Kathleen Clark 62:03
So and then you also created the health Commons in Cedar Riverside neighborhood to
that's partnership with Oxford University and the University of Minnesota health. So and
that was starting in 2009. So, what is the health comments and why did you think this
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work was needed?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
62:26
The Health Commons is very very good system this I think the bridge between community
and health facility disappearing fairly because we are doing a lot of activity which the
community need and which the community now get from the clinic. For example, where
education one hour one day non get community forum primary parameter but they not
have time. They reviewed me seen they now get for clinic but they get for a male common
all day advice on what we're doing and how we educate the community. Tina good
parameter you know the TechStars they have very, very limited time to see the patient.
Dinner experienced everything. A lot of people take a lot of medicine which they not see
me even non them nobody showed them that medicine. And when they bring home and
they open TC low lot of different diminishing but they don't stand with for what and
therefore we tell them be to bring a tree for you. They will see it and explain on everything.
We do some activity of like a yoga or exercises or massage on this I think the hell come on
is very, very good. Think I like it to open different area in the Minnesota rally because this
the way we can break the health spirit. Because like this health common, and this can help
a community to understand because we explain the system, we experimentation and we
experienced the appeal of light of the patient. And we educate the community to exist to
do very, very good. think for themselves. Absolutely.
K
Kathleen Clark 64:42
So what was the community's response to the health comments?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
64:45
Yeah, let the community respond. And they appreciate. Absolutely. And they appreciate.
They come in there on every day we see people, different people and the community they
appreciate. Absolutely.
K
Kathleen Clark 65:02
So what type of health related concerns do people come in with the most So you
mentioned medication review and needing primary care? So what are the what are the
most common questions that people typically have when they come to visit with you at
the health conference?
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D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
65:18
For example, different they come for free of the medicine, they come for the question
what the coverage are, you determine a month they come to the doctor is maybe a half
differently to proclaim. But the doctor deal with on a and they come back and non very,
very happy for our clinic because the doctor asked them other things they have. And
when they come as they say I've been the doctor and I have three purple AM but he
turned me on the Despicable Me and I have this thing. And we explain why they do that.
And we explain why you must tell that that the main complaint of you have not
everything to have number they can solve when they were all you have this education to
the community how to deal with the clinical program here. And the other thing they don't
understand the for example, someone have the capital of an operation, they administer,
they get prescription medicine, but they don't understand they must take this medicine
forever. They think this like antibiotic rain one day take one month, two months, they stop
and this is a very very dangerous one. And we explained the they must take this medicine
forever Absolutely. And if they have some purple MU go back to the doctor, other people
take medicine from the people who have any knowledge of their health, tell them this
medicine is very now good they are mounting and they throw the medicine do not take
the medicine and they know go back to the doctors. Therefore this is a very very good AL
common to educate the community and explain the future of their life and tell them they
are responsible for their life. Absolutely.
K
Kathleen Clark 67:29
And I know you mentioned that doctors here need to build trust with their patients. But
what other recommendations might you have for health care providers when they're
working with Somali patients to be culturally sensitive?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
67:42
Yeah, I think the providers must they must understand the culture of the person they visit
they must understand his vision they measure they must understand his religion what he
believe with he think if they talk a one or two words of their language for a sample one
day I take my wife to the clinic and that that will our whole set to report us a cutter at the
was not there that thing we was emergency surgery was the other doctor but the other
doctor was very good a very very clever one and he 11 sam so my language and see it
could be the first period to clear look up left right in so many we come out from there my
wife said this doctor is very good doctor and I tell her I say that this is your first time you
see since his pics are Malik is really good to learn some language Somali Spanish
whatever this is better for them to get the rest of the patient.
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K
Kathleen Clark 69:13
So can you explain to me a little bit about access to food in the neighborhood I know that
there's some differences in traditional food that people in Somalia versus here Do you
have any thoughts on that
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
69:26
Look there Somalia we eat only three times a day morning lunch and dinner and we not
too much for unhealthy food our food was completely natural one day meet to slow that
this morning the meek come from so not in Corporation they have a completely different
life out therefore and they are the biggest in class the Somali wash every body work
meaning on eight hours daily for work or for TV on whatever therefore, whatever we eat in
so money that we consume, because for that activity or that walk or that life and but
when we come here we eat a lot of food very very fast food a lot of shifting sedentary life,
the non walk the people talk by phone or by cash that people eating and eating lunch
then Somalia. Therefore we start to now to have some people who have who are who are
all very obese. We see people who have not kept at Coachella This year our big problem
now we are getting some money to come in obese diabetic or blood pressure or
cholesterol because of the lack of food and less of activity.
K
Kathleen Clark 71:30
What role does faith and religion have in people's health practices would you say?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
71:37
In Somalia, all they are Muslims rally and they believe their religion and they practice rally
in Minnesota when I come was only one small mosque when mosque but today we have
almost a more of a the mosque in most of them down altering their own from community
practice and the belief really they enjoyed early absolutely now Minnesota one of the
popular Somali community in the United States the people they're doing very well.
K
Kathleen Clark 72:22
Is there any proverbs that really guide your practice your health practice for yourself? Are
there any favorite proverbs that you have that you use when you're feeling like you're
having care burner burnout or anything like that? Is there any proverbs you turn to
typically? Or is there a proverb that you like the most from the Quran to reflect on when
you're thinking about health?
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D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
72:52
You yeah really the Quran help to healing if you believe most of the lot of the current after
can afford health most of you can find a lot of the soul I who talk about health or
prevention and everything and Corrado commanded to to a very very cool think for held
up so even for eating the Knesset, you divide your Irish term a three part one for food, one
for water and work for a fish and that's to prevent the obesity and absolute the overeating
and the Quran access to excess exercise and even the praying five time is very very good
for health because five damn good to exercise five time you killing yourself. Five thing you
are putting out before God therefore is very the Quran is very, very good. And very
healthy. The people are set the Quran and the advice of the Quran take a very, very good
job a good life.
K
Kathleen Clark 74:16
And I know you need to leave in 15 minutes. I'm just going to ask two more question. What
would you say? Or how has the political climate in the US affected people's health or
happiness in the Somali community?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
74:33
The political life of the United States bristling down this after last election is non court
rally and our president is I think his strategy I think not friendship to some everyone to see
what he's doing go a day. is a secretive or there are everything is not good. Absolutely.
Average is different from our previous president the valley, but usually they do.
K
Kathleen Clark 75:12
Okay, well, since like the Affordable Care Act, how has that how are how is that worked in
the community? I think you were a mentor navigator.
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
75:23
Yeah. This is a Obamacare we call this the best think the percent of Obama he did for
government for some above for American. So people absolute for health. I x rated the
next person the two universal health non cut the previous one. Therefore, I think why he
think to spell the Obamacare. The other thing if I think this a first time United States
person to go back and destroy what did the other person the previous in this first time I
see Absolutely. My 22 years in the state. But I hope this only will be four years, which after
four years will come out again.
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K
Kathleen Clark 76:23
Alright, my last question. What do you think the community will be like in 20 years from
now?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
76:32
If now we notice that prevent obesity, collaboration, debating cholesterol, they will prefer
a better word purposes. Therefore I am booked all my effort to prevented this Chronicle
preventable disease. The otherwise after 20 years we get a lot of people who are obese
healthy the gut can live very well. Absolutely careful. Just so many commitments wake up
now and prevent this Chronicle disease and this Chronicle disease of preventable
diseases. Therefore, we put all our effort to educate community to go right direction of
good health, then from direction.
K
Kathleen Clark 77:30
Anything else you want to add before we wrap up?
D
Dr. Osman (Harare)
77:33
I think we understand where my English
K
Kathleen Clark 77:41
Well, thank you so much for your time. Okay. Okay.
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