As Ethiopia’s coronavirus toll continues to rise, this global health emergency has become one of the most challenging battles ever combated. Health Minister Dr. Lia Tadesse can be commended for doing a great job in handling #COVID19-Ethiopia. “She is truly setting an example of strong and efficient leadership which is the need of the hour. She is taking stringent measures at the right time to protect her country from the brunt of the spreading infection. Even though more difficult times lie ahead. let’s make it our duty to support and stand in solidarity with Dr. Lia Tadesse and her team to help flatten the curve.” (EthiopiansAgainstViolenceonWomen)
Dr Lia Tadesse was appointed state minister of Health in 2018. Prior to her appointment Dr. Liya Tadesse worked at Saint Paul Hospital as Chief Executive Officer. During her tenure there, Dr. Lia Tadesse was celebrated for her transformational leadership.
Dr. Lia Tadesse was born in 1976 in Addis Ababa to an entomologist father and a mother who worked in education. She attended Etege Menen Secondary School where she was enrolled in a special class for high achievers, excelling as one of the top students. She shares, “I knew I was going to be a medical doctor ever since I was a little girl.” She used to tease her dad, who had a Ph.D. in entomology saying, “One day I will become a real doctor.” After finishing high school, Lia went to Jimma Medical School where she was one of four female students who were eligible to enroll in medical school. Even then, Lia was very intrigued and wondered why there were only few female students.
For Lia, being a medical doctor is a passion not just a career. She specialized in obstetrics and gynecology and believed this to be her calling as being with women at their most important and vulnerable time of their life and giving them the best service was gratifying. Lia became the first female chief of residence in her residency years at Black Lion Hospital.
During her residency, Dr. Lia was fascinated about the daily operational challenges and gaps that these hospitals had and started to wonder what she could do to make a difference and how she could bring about lasting change in the system. One of these hospitals she looked at closely was St. Paul’s Hospital. During her time of residency as Chief of Resident, there were lots of challenges she was faced with for being a female resident as well as a medical doctor in the health service dominated by men. However, she never saw these challenges as barriers despite the engraved culture of hierarchy. True to herself, she led by example, and showed true passion for her field. In 2007, she gave a presentation at the conference of Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, on young doctors. It was an outstanding presentation document, which accorded her admiration by her fellow professionals. At this conference, she was spotted by the Ministry of Health officials and was introduced to then Minister of Health. He was very impressed with the paper she presented and he believed that she had the passion and dedication to lead one of the government hospitals and hence he offered her to run St. Paul Hospital. Dr. Lia shares, “It was overwhelming and I was not really confident if I could handle the enormous challenges I was going to face by becoming the CEO of St. Paul Hospital”. However, for Dr. Lia, challenge was never good enough reason not to take the position; she took the position with support and encouragement of her family, especially her husband. After she joined St Paul Hospital as CEO, Dr. Lia made significant improvements and contributions. Dr. Lia says her biggest achievements are all the collaborations she has made with other international ho
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