Obituary | Jan 16,2021
Just a sneak peek of Tibebe Yemanebirhan (PhD) in one of his appearances on television speaks to his status. A dermatologist, research scientist, diplomat that has represented the country on the international stage and world laureate, according to the American Biographical Institute, he sometimes seemed to carry his credentials on his person.
Over half a decade ago, he appeared on the talk show Seifu on EBS to discuss his various accomplishments, including his recent medal of honor from Russian President Vladimir Putin. He was greeted onstage with the entire audience standing. Seifu Fantahun, the host of the show, announced his name, and Tibebe appeared in the spotlight on top of a stairway, walking first slowly and then with confidence and grace onto a red carpet. He was dressed in the traditional white attire and donning a kabba, a black cloak that used to imply noble status.
Before the interview could begin, there was one issue the host had to address – that of titles.
“First of all … which one of your titles should I use,” asked Seifu, more respectful than usual with his guests. “When I address you, should I say, ‘the Most Honourable World Laureate Dr. Tibebe Yemanebirhan?'”
“Yes,” the guest said with a straight face. “In the middle, you can use Dr. Tibebe,” he threw in as a compromise.
Titles are of high importance in some of the cultures of Ethiopia, but as Tibebe went on to explain, it is not about ego. These titles were given to him out of appreciation and achievement.
“And I have to enforce the titles I have been given,” he answered.
Enforce them he did. When he passed away of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) on February 20, 2021, and was laid to rest at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Addis Abeba, the Carter Centre was putting out a statement on his death by referring to him in the manner Seifu had mentioned.
Born in Harar, Tibebe, who is survived by two daughters, did have reason to celebrate the titles he earned. He was educated in the Lviv State Medical Institute in the Soviet Union, kicking off his long career in the health sector. He was a dermatologist, social hygienist and public health expert. He has produced dozens of research papers and worked in health-related institutions such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), Lions-Carter Center SightFirst, and the Ethiopian Red Cross Society. He was a goodwill Ambassador for the Guinea Worm Eradication Programme in Ethiopia, South Sudan, Chad and Mali.
With the Carter Center, he worked to eradicate diseases such as trachoma, with over 715,000 surgeries performed during his leadership at SightFirst. By 2014, Ethiopia was no longer attempting to control the disease's spread but eliminate it entirely.
“Dr. Tibebe will be missed, not only for his work, but also for who he was and his advocacy for the control and elimination of neglected tropical diseases,” said Health Minister Lia Tadesse.
But he was also considered instrumental in more ways than just the health sector, also filling shoes in the field of public diplomacy. One of these duties was being a member of the Ethiopian delegation that went to Cairo, Egypt, in 2014, to foster cooperation between the two countries as their relations soured over the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
“We have to work hard and grow more to be respected and seen as equals during negotiations,” he told reporters after meeting his counterparts on the Egyptian side. “It's a power that is most crucial.”
His friends remember him as having as much verve, wealth of experience and knowledge as his public persona displayed. More than that, they considered him to be a person that others could count on.
“If there is one thing that he is known for, it's that he's dependable,” said Abiy Fesseha, a close friend. “He was willing to help anyone who asked for it.”
PUBLISHED ON
Mar 13,2021 [ VOL
21 , NO
1089]
Obituary | Jan 16,2021
My Opinion | Feb 16,2019
Radar | Apr 13,2019
Covid-19 | Jun 13,2020
Commentaries | Jun 07,2020
Radar | Apr 06,2019
Commentaries | Apr 17,2020
Fortune News | Feb 16,2019
Radar | Oct 23,2018
Sunday with Eden | Mar 06,2021
July 24 , 2021
There was an alarming increase in the price of Teffin August 2017. It suddenly skyroc...
June 26 , 2021 . By HAWI DADHI and SAMUEL BOGALE
This past Monday was the second time Belay Zerihun, a second-time voter, has had to s...
June 12 , 2021
Milton Freedman, the renowned monetary economist, had a mantra. He believed, "inflati...
May 24 , 2021
The United States imposes visa restrictions against current and former Ethiopian and...
July 31 , 2021
They say making peace is harder than waging war. It is a real test of the courage of...
July 24 , 2021
There was an alarming increase in the price of Teffin August 2017. It suddenly skyroc...
July 18 , 2021
The function held by the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) to announce the...
July 10 , 2021
There is no shortage of drafts beings drawn, and bills authored these days. The more...
Put your comments here