Congratulations Mekdes Daba, our new Minister of Health
Developing Story: Mekdes Daba Appointed as Minister of Health by House of Peoples Representatives The parliament also approved the appointment of Dr. Mekdes Daba as minister of Health, replacing Dr. Lia Tadesse. Dr. Mekdes, an obstetrician and gynecologist at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, was the first woman in Ethiopia to have completed family planning and reproductive health subspecialty training in 2022. She served as the president of the Ethiopian Obstetricians and Gynecologists Association (ESOG). In 2021, she won the FIGO Awards in Recognition of Female Obstetricians/Gynecologists.
We wish her all the best
This is the message from Lia Tadesse:
Your Excellency Dr.
, Congratulations on your appointment as the Minister of Health. Wishing you a successful tenure, I take this opportunity to express my sincere confidence you will discharge this tremendous responsibility with diligence, competence, & compassion.
We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Mekdes Daba, from St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology has successfully completed Family planning & Reproductive health subspecialty training. She is the first woman to complete this fellowship program in Ethiopia. We wish her all the best in her upcoming endeavors.
She is the first woman to complete this fellowship program in Ethiopia.
About Mekdes Daba, new Health Minister
Team lead at the Deputy Director General Office of World Health Organization, HQ, Geneva. Senior Obstetrician and Gynecologist and a public health specialist. More than ten years of experience in clinical practice and academics. The first female Family Planning and Reproductive Health subspecialist in Ethiopia. Completed a medical undergraduate degree at Hawassa University and did a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at AAU. Finished FP fellowship at St.Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College and did a post-doctoral fellowship at WHO, Geneva.
Immediate past President and former Honorary Secretary of the Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Recipient of FIGO 2021 women’s award.
Former managing director of the centre for international reproductive health training (CIRHT). Served as a chair and member of the civil society advisory group of UN Women Ethiopia, the technical advisory group of WHO AFRO, country representative of ECSACOG, member of FIGO committee on REI, scientific committee and community of practice in RH.
Believes in evidence-based Advocacy. Is an Advocate for gender equality, universal health coverage, community involvement, family planning and women empowerment. Great passion for serving women and girls.
«Leaving No One Behind» and
«Being an active contributor to a positive change»
are the two themes that move Mekdes.
Believes in servant leadership and says leadership is a means to bring the best out of everything if used or done as it should be!
She is the first woman to complete this fellowship program in Ethiopia.
