Sophie Redmond

Lino portrait by Carine

Sophie Redmond (1907-1955), was a doctor with her own practice in Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname. She was passionate about public health, cared for the poor and had a strong sense of Surinamese identity. This also showed in her radio show and on the stage.

Sophie was already strong-willed as a young girl. Instead of playing the piano, her father’s choice, she picked the violin. When it came to her education, her father wished her to become a teacher, but Sophie wanted to study medicine instead. This was not made easy by the fact that she was a black, dark-skinned woman. But she persisted, ignored the taunts and in 1935 received her diploma. With it, she set up shop, starting her own practice to serve the community. Many called her ‘datra fu pôtisma’ (doctor of the poor) because she often consulted for free for those low on funds. Not only did she help with health matters, she also gave advice on marriage problems, family or financial issues. Her dedication was hands-on, sweeping the stoop to her practice herself. She had no children with her husband, a distiller.

 ‘Datra, mi wan’ aksi wan sani‘

TItle of Sophie’s radio show: ‘Doctor, I have a question’

During her own weekly radio show, titled ‘Datra, mi wan aksi wan sani’ (Docter, I have a question), she discussed health, hygiene, the household and current social issues. She shared experiences from her practice and answered questions from the public. Another means for her to bring knowledge to the people was the stage. She acted in plays and even wrote her own, often educating the audience on a variety of topics, including elections and blood transfusions.

Her love of Surinamese culture came out in her language, dress and food. Her work was mostly in Sranantongo, the lingua franca in Suriname, and she wore a “koto”, the Afro-Surinamese traditional dress. One of the projects she was working on before she died (too young!), was about researching and teaching Surinamese medicinal herbs. She also cooked with local foods, never buying imported canned fruits but using local produce, like the pommerak – a berry that looks like a pear.

The street she last called home now carries her name: Sophie Redmondstraat. The house, named Josephine, still stands. My parents remember it from when we lived there.

Also look up:

Other great doctors that deserve a mention: Dr Elizabeth Blackwell, Britain’s first woman doctor; Dr Una Ledingam, who became an expert on the problems of diabetes in pregnancy; Agnodice, the first female doctor in ancient Athens; Dorotea Bucca, who held a chair of medicine and philosophy at the University of Bologna for over forty years from 1390; Anna Morandi Manzolini, Professor of anatomy at the University of Bologna in 1756; Constance Calenda, an Italian surgeon specialising in eye disease; the Women of Salermo, a group of female physicians that published medical works; or Aletta Jacobs, the first Dutch woman doctor who played a significant role in Dutch suffrage.

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