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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LEPROSY ^ Volume 57, Number 2 Printed in the U.S.. i. OBITUARIES Zerihun Desta Zerihun Desta, one of Ethiopia's pioneers in the light against leprosy, passed away sud- denly on 20 No- vember 1988, at the age of 55. Zerihun devoted most of his profes- sional life to the cause of leprosy, particularly to leprosy con- trol. He received bis training as Health Of- ficer at the Public Health College in Gondar, Ethiopia, graduating in 1957. From 1957 to 1959 he was a member of a World Health Organization toam involved in malaria con- trol and in scvcral training activities. From early 1959 until 1962 he worked at the lep- rosy hospital in Addis Ababa, where he was in chargc of the outpatient clinic and su- pervised various medicai activities. Through hard work he increased his knowledge of leprosy and dermatology. In 1962, he was transferred to the Gojjam region, where he was in charge of a major health center, a leprosy hospital, and the leprosy control services in the whole region. From 1964 until 1967 he worked as Chief Leprosy Control Officer in the National Lcprosy Control Programmc. For a short while in 1967 he was a medicai represen- tativo for a pharmaceutical company. Upon request by the Ministry of Public Health, he rejoined the government services in Jan- uary 1968. Since then, he worked in the field of leprosy in severa' senior positions. His last post was as Deputy Director of the ALERT Leprosy Control Programmc, Zerihun obtained a Master's degree in Public Health in 1972 in Michigan, U.S.A., a Master's degree in Health Personnel Ed- ucation in 1981 in New South Wales, and he followed a training course in teaching primary health care in 1986 in Liverpool. Zerihun showed a genuine interest in and affection for both the patients and his stafT. These natural attitudes toward patients and staff contributed much to the success of the services. He worked under very difficult conditions where his devotion to duty be- carne patently obvious. His great strength lay in his ability to work with people and to implant in them some of his own dcdi- cation to the welfàre of the leprosy patients and the light against the disease. Since the establishment of ALERT as an international training institute, he was one of the leading teachers during the interna- tional and national training courses. I3oth during classroom leaching and during visits with trainees to the rural arcas, he exhibited noteworthy qualities as a teacher. On nu- merous occasions trainees expressed their deep apprcciation and respect for his gen- uine interest in the patients. l3esides being a very good and enthusias- tic teacher, he was a real field man. During a speech on the occasion of the 25th anni- versary of Zerihun's service in leprosy, in .Zune 1984, Mr. B. Johannessen, Executive Director of ALERT at that time, expressed his appreciation as follows: "Even though research is necessary for the understanding and the strategy in the fight against leprosy, nothing can be achicved unless we have frontline soldicrs to do the fighting on the spot. It is in this frontline that Ato Zerihun has dedicated his 25 years of service and it is in this capacity that we ali congratulale him with his anniversary." Zerihun was in the frontline as regards the implementation of multidrug therapy. He was convinced that Chis was the best treatment for the patients. We salute him as a very loyal colleague. His support and friendship have been much appreciated by ali who worked with him. Zerihun was always there to give advice, not only in professional mattcrs but also in per- sonal mattcrs. He had a deep faith in the Almighty God and, although he was quite often hurt, maintained a deep and broad confidence in pcople. Our feelings of sympathy go to his wife and eight children. —Marijke Becx-Bleuminck 552
Transcript of rhn t - ILSLila.ilsl.br/pdfs/v57n2a15.pdf · rl ntl 62 h rd t th lp r hptl n Add Abb, hr h n hr f...
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LEPROSY^ Volume 57, Number 2
Printed in the U.S.. i.
OBITUARIESZerihun Desta
Zerihun Desta,one of Ethiopia'spioneers in the lightagainst leprosy,passed away sud-denly on 20 No-vember 1988, atthe age of 55.
Zerihun devotedmost of his profes-sional life to the
cause of leprosy, particularly to leprosy con-trol. He received bis training as Health Of-ficer at the Public Health College in Gondar,Ethiopia, graduating in 1957. From 1957 to1959 he was a member of a World HealthOrganization toam involved in malaria con-trol and in scvcral training activities. Fromearly 1959 until 1962 he worked at the lep-rosy hospital in Addis Ababa, where he wasin chargc of the outpatient clinic and su-pervised various medicai activities. Throughhard work he increased his knowledge ofleprosy and dermatology.
In 1962, he was transferred to the Gojjamregion, where he was in charge of a majorhealth center, a leprosy hospital, and theleprosy control services in the whole region.From 1964 until 1967 he worked as ChiefLeprosy Control Officer in the NationalLcprosy Control Programmc. For a shortwhile in 1967 he was a medicai represen-tativo for a pharmaceutical company. Uponrequest by the Ministry of Public Health,he rejoined the government services in Jan-uary 1968. Since then, he worked in the fieldof leprosy in severa' senior positions. Hislast post was as Deputy Director of theALERT Leprosy Control Programmc,
Zerihun obtained a Master's degree inPublic Health in 1972 in Michigan, U.S.A.,a Master's degree in Health Personnel Ed-ucation in 1981 in New South Wales, andhe followed a training course in teachingprimary health care in 1986 in Liverpool.
Zerihun showed a genuine interest in andaffection for both the patients and his stafT.These natural attitudes toward patients andstaff contributed much to the success of the
services. He worked under very difficultconditions where his devotion to duty be-carne patently obvious. His great strengthlay in his ability to work with people andto implant in them some of his own dcdi-cation to the welfàre of the leprosy patientsand the light against the disease.
Since the establishment of ALERT as aninternational training institute, he was oneof the leading teachers during the interna-tional and national training courses. I3othduring classroom leaching and during visitswith trainees to the rural arcas, he exhibitednoteworthy qualities as a teacher. On nu-merous occasions trainees expressed theirdeep apprcciation and respect for his gen-uine interest in the patients.
l3esides being a very good and enthusias-tic teacher, he was a real field man. Duringa speech on the occasion of the 25th anni-versary of Zerihun's service in leprosy, in.Zune 1984, Mr. B. Johannessen, ExecutiveDirector of ALERT at that time, expressedhis appreciation as follows: "Even thoughresearch is necessary for the understandingand the strategy in the fight against leprosy,nothing can be achicved unless we havefrontline soldicrs to do the fighting on thespot. It is in this frontline that Ato Zerihunhas dedicated his 25 years of service and itis in this capacity that we ali congratulalehim with his anniversary."
Zerihun was in the frontline as regardsthe implementation of multidrug therapy.He was convinced that Chis was the besttreatment for the patients.
We salute him as a very loyal colleague.His support and friendship have been muchappreciated by ali who worked with him.Zerihun was always there to give advice, notonly in professional mattcrs but also in per-sonal mattcrs. He had a deep faith in theAlmighty God and, although he was quiteoften hurt, maintained a deep and broadconfidence in pcople.
Our feelings of sympathy go to his wifeand eight children.
—Marijke Becx-Bleuminck
552
