Andrea Evangelina Rodríguez Perozo facts for kids
Andrea Evangelina Rodríguez Perozo (born 1879, died 1947) was a very important woman in the Dominican Republic. She was the first woman to finish medical school there.
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Her Early Life
Evangelina Rodríguez was born in Altamira, Dominican Republic. Her family was poor. Her grandmother, Tomasina Suero, raised her. Her grandmother sold homemade sweets to earn money. Evangelina, nicknamed Lilina, started selling gofio (a sweet cornmeal powder) at age 6. This helped pay for her school.
Becoming a Doctor and Helping Others
Her Medical Journey
When Evangelina was 12, she helped care for a sick poet, Rafael Alfredo Deligne. He became her mentor. He helped her attend the Instituto de Señoritas. There, she met Salomé Ureña's founder, Anacaona Moscoso. Anacaona encouraged Evangelina to become a doctor.
Evangelina started medical school in 1903. This was at the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo. In 1909, she earned her medical degree. She became the first woman doctor in the Dominican Republic.
As a new doctor, it was hard for her to find work. She moved to Ramom Santana. This area was home to people who opposed the American invasion (1916–1924). There, she offered medical and teaching services. She gave free medical care in poor communities.
In 1921, she went to Paris, France, to study more. She returned in 1926. She had advanced degrees in caring for pregnant women and public health. She also studied politics.
Helping Her Community
Evangelina Rodríguez worked hard to help people. She set up many important health services:
- A Mother's Milk Bank
- A Cow's Milk Dispensary (Gota de Leche)
- A vaccination clinic
- A Society for the Protection of Mothers and Infants
- A tuberculosis sanatorium
- A lepers' asylum
After returning from France, she gave free health care to women in need. She also gave free milk to nursing mothers. And she provided free food to poor children.
Standing Up to Power
Evangelina Rodríguez saw the dictator Rafael Trujillo as a danger to her country. She spoke out against his government. Because of her strong opinions, her work was made very difficult. Her medical practice suffered. Other politicians and doctors avoided her. She was even pursued by the police in 1935. This was because she did not show enough praise for Trujillo.
As an Educator
Evangelina's mentor, Anacaona Moscoso Puello, founded the Instituto de Señoritas (Young Ladies Institution). Evangelina was in its first graduating class in 1902. After Anacaona passed away, Evangelina became the director of the "Young Ladies Instituto Profesional" in 1907.
She taught at the Young Ladies Institute during the day. In the evenings, she taught at the Laborers and Domestic Workers Night School. In 1915, she published a book called Granos de polen (Pollen Grains). It was about hygiene and raising children.
As a Writer
Besides her medical work, Evangelina was also an author. She published Granos de polen in 1915. She also wrote poems and articles for the magazine "Fémina." After returning from France, she published another book. It was called Le Guerisseur: Cuento Chino Bíblico Filosófico de Moral Social. She also wrote a novel called Selene, named after her adopted daughter.
Her Final Years
Evangelina Rodríguez was taken into custody for speaking out against the Trujillo government. She was held in a fortress. Later, she was left on a road near Hato Mayor. She passed away on January 11, 1947.
Her Legacy
Even though the Trujillo government tried to erase her from history, Evangelina Rodríguez is remembered today. She is seen as a pioneer in medicine in the Dominican Republic. Especially for her work in women's health care.
The Dominican Social Security Institute (IDSS) honored her. They reopened and renamed the Dominican Women's Hospital in Santo Domingo and San Rafael del Yuma after her. An elementary school in her hometown of San Pedro de Macorís is also named after her.
Evangelina Rodríguez never married. However, she adopted a daughter named Selisette Sánchez Santiago. Selisette's mother was Evangelina's patient and passed away after giving birth in 1929.
See also
In Spanish: Evangelina Rodríguez para niños
