Raeesa Abdul-Rahman

Iraqi physician who pioneered modern midwifery and founded Baghdad's first maternity hospital in 1938

Raeesa Abdul-Rahman (1905-1972) was a trailblazing obstetrician who transformed maternal healthcare in Iraq. After completing her medical training in Paris, she returned to Baghdad to establish the Al-Mutanabbi Maternity Hospital - the first facility in the Middle East with modern sterilization equipment and trained midwives. Her 1941 textbook 《Midwifery in Modern Iraq》 became the standard reference for产科医学 in the region, reducing maternal mortality rates by 60% within a decade.

She developed culturally sensitive childbirth practices that preserved traditional customs while introducing antiseptic techniques and pain management. Her work with UNICEF from 1955-1965 established standardized protocols for rural midwifery training, influencing WHO's 1960s maternal health initiatives. The hospital's archives, now housed at the Baghdad Medical Heritage Museum, document her innovations like the first Arabic-language neonatal incubator.

Recent scholarship includes Medical History Journal's analysis of her impact on gendered healthcare practices. Her legacy is commemorated through the annual Raeesa Lecture series at London's Royal College of Obstetricians, and the 2020 Google Doodle celebrating her contributions to global healthcare.