An Afghan refugee girl grew up to be a prize-winning doc — with a little help from dad
From the moment Saleema Rehman was born, her father believed she was destined to be a doctor. Now she is the winner of a top U.N. award for her work helping displaced women in Pakistan.
When Saleema Rehman was a kid growing up in refugee camps in Pakistan, her nickname was "Doctor Saleema."
Her mom faced severe complications while delivering her – and Rehman's dad, Abdul, promised that if the baby lived, he would make sure the child became a doctor.
Today, Rehman, 29, is a gynecologist serving displaced Afghan women in the city of Attock, Pakistan. According to the U.N., she is the first female refugee doctor from Afghanistan's Turkmen ethnic group. And last week, she won UNHCR's regional Nansen Refugee Award, an annual prize given to individuals doing outstanding work for displaced people.
"She's a trailblazer..
