Agnes Yewande Savage, a daughter of a Nigerian father from Abeokuta and a Scottish mother, was the first woman in West Africa to train and qualify as a medical doctor. She was also the first West African woman to earn a university degree, graduating with first-class honors in medicine at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1929 at the age of 23.
Yewande Savage was a pioneering figure in African medical history, breaking barriers in a profession that was, at the time, overwhelmingly dominated by men and largely inaccessible to Africans.
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on February 21, 1906, Savage possessed an exceptional intellect that set her apart from an early age.
Her brilliance was evident in her academic achievements.
She excelled at the University of Edinburgh, where she graduated with first-class honours in medicine in 1929, an extraordinary feat for any student, let alone a young African woman facing the weight of racial and gender biases.
Despite her remarkable credentials, opportunities within the British medical establishment remained limited due to the deep-seated prejudices of the era.
Determined to make a difference, Yewande Savage took her talents to the Gold Coast (modern-day Ghana), where she became a doctor. In an era when African women were rarely seen in professional medical roles, Savage not only practised medicine but also played a significant role in public health and medical education.
She worked as a medical officer and a paediatrician, advocating for better healthcare for African communities, particularly women and children, who were often neglected in colonial medical systems.
Although better qualified than most of her male counterparts, Dr. Savage received fewer benefits.
Her career, though filled with challenges, was a testament to resilience. She faced discrimination both within and outside the medical field, yet she continued to push boundaries.
Her work laid the foundation for future generations of African female doctors, proving that African women had a rightful place in medicine.
In fact, Savage influenced Susan de Graft-Johnson, who later went on to also study medicine at the University of Edinburgh, becoming Ghana’s first female medical doctor in 1947.
Sadly, Savage’s contributions were not widely recognised in her lifetime, and she eventually returned to Britain, where she lived the rest of her days until her death, following a stroke, on September 7, 1964. She was only 58.
However, her legacy endures. She remains an inspirational figure, not only for breaking racial and gender barriers but for her unwavering commitment to improving medical care in Africa.
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