Dr Emmanuel Taban talks escaping his war-torn home in the '90s
Dr Emmanuel Taban joined the Scenic Drive to talk about his journey to South Africa, after escaping from his war-torn home country in the ’90s.
Dr Taban left his home country of the Republic of South Sudan at the age of 16 after his father was killed in the South Sudanese Civil War. He completed his secondary education with the help of charity groups, including Mercy House, and went on to study medicine at Medunsa University.
Having qualified as a physician, Dr Taban settled on specialising in internal medicine during his period of community service. It was during this time when he was based in Secunda, Mpumalanga, that he began to see the need for a local pulmonology specialist.
Pulmonology is a medical field that addresses diseases involving the respiratory tract. Pulmonologists usually see patients with advanced cases of asthma or tuberculosis, and Dr Taban says the small mining towns of Mpumalanga are home to a unique mix of risk factors.
Emmanuel Taban holds three medical degrees. In 2019, Taban qualified to offer expert pulmonology care at Mediclinic Highveld – a rare and valuable service in rural Mpumalanga – as well as Mediclinic Midstream.
Dr Taban joined the Scenic Drive to talk about his journey - and how his life changed after becoming a physician in South Africa.
"When I arrived in South Africa, I was 16. I was living on the streets."
"I started doing gardening for a family - and they asked me what I wanted to do. I said I wanted to go to school."
"My studies were paid by sponsorships. They saw something in me."
Listen to the full conversation below:
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