Fanny Friedman facts for kids

Fanny Friedman (born Frances Friedman on June 21, 1926) is a famous doctor and politician from Eswatini, a country in Southern Africa. She is also known as Fannie Friedman. She made history by becoming the first woman in Eswatini to be a government minister. She was also the first female senator in her country, serving from 1987 to 1993.

About Fanny Friedman

Fanny Friedman worked as a doctor in many hospitals across Eswatini. She also helped several non-governmental organizations. She cared deeply about improving healthcare for mothers in her country. In 1994, she even wrote the introduction for a book about maternal health in Africa.

Her Education and Early Career

Fanny Friedman studied medicine at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. After becoming a doctor, she was appointed as a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health in 1968. This role is now called Principal Secretary. She also served as the Director of Health Services.

She was an important member of the World Health Organization (WHO) governing body. She also joined the WHO's regional committee for the World Health Assembly. In 1975, the WHO gave her a special scholarship. This allowed her to study public health for a year. She spent six months in Belgium and six months in Holland.

A Pioneer in Politics

Fanny Friedman was a member of Parliament from 1983 to 1987. After that, she became a senator, serving from 1987 to 1997. In November 1987, she achieved a major milestone. She was appointed as the head of the Ministry of Health. This made her the first woman in Eswatini's history to become a government minister. She held this important position until 1993.

Friedman was not only the first female doctor from Eswatini to specialize in public health. She was also the very first woman to join the cabinet of ministers in her country's history.

In 2018, her amazing achievements were celebrated. She was featured in an online publication called "Portrait of a Swazi Woman: 50 Women, 50 Years." This honored her contributions to the society of Eswatini.