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Dr Emmanuel Taban Refugee Who Became Leading Pulmonologist in South Africa

This week Carte Blanche celebrates the life of a young refugee who became a leading pulmonologist, and is now saving the lives of critically-ill COVID-19 patients in South Africa, plus more.

The Extraordinary Life of

Emmanuel Taban

On Sunday Carte Blanche tells the story of how a location etched onto a soft drink can changed the life of a young refugee from South Sudan, leading him on a long journey to South Africa where he’d eventually save the lives of COVID-19 patients.

Born in a tiny village in South Sudan, Emmanuel Taban was one of five siblings raised by a single mother. At 14 he was arrested by the Military for being a rebel-spy, incarcerated, tortured and sent off to Khartoum. He fled to Eritrea, where he was again imprisoned.

Upon his release, he decided to walk nearly 3,000km to an uncle in Nairobi, Kenya, but he wasn’t welcomed – so, inspired by the “made in South Africa” printing on a cola can, he travelled another 3,000 km through East Africa on his own and eventually into South Africa. He was just 17.

Carte Blanche celebrates a life of epic grit and imagination – of a young refugee who became a leading pulmonologist who is saving the lives of critically-ill COVID-19 ventilator patients with his novel use of therapeutic bronchoscopies.(Producer: Eugene Botha | Presenter: Masa Kekana)

 

Source: SA People News

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