Trichardt pulmonologist finishes first book about his life
Read all about Dr Taban's life story.
TRICHARDT – Dr Emmanuel Taban recently finished writing his first book, called The Boy who Never Gave Up and released it a few weeks ago.
Dr Taban, a pulmonologist with a practise in Trichardt, grew up in the south of Sudan and was forced to fled his country in 1994 when he was just 16 years old because war was raging then in Sudan.
He was tortured by the Sudanese government who falsely accused him of spying for the rebels.
He took a wrong turn and ended up in Eritrea the neighbouring country of Sudan, as a refugee instead of being re-united with his family.
He lost his father in the war in Sudan.
Dr Taban had to endure many dangers over the following few months, he had to spend many nights on the streets and relied on the generosity of strangers.
However, he finally managed to make his way to South Africa via Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
He reached Johannesburg, 18 months after leaving Sudan and he was determined to resume his education.
He ended up attending school in Badplaas when he received support from Catholic missionaries after his father died in the war.
He later continued his high school career at Jeppe High School for Boys in Johannesburg so that he could obtain better marks to get into university and to study to become a doctor.
Dr Taban opened a private practice at Mediclinic Highveld in 2011 and soon realised that there are many untreated pulmonary-related diseases in the area.
It had been his dream for many years to specialise in pulmonology.
His dream became a reality when he obtained a higher degree and he became one of only a few pulmonologists in South Africa in 2018.
His skills and dedication as a physician led him to discover a treatment of hypoxemic Covid-19 patients and he was at the forefront of treatment in the intensive care unit.
Dr Taban was the first pulmonologist worldwide to perform a therapeutic bronchoscopy on a hypoxemic Covid-19 patient and he discovered that some deaths of Covid-19 pneumonia are due to fibrinous mucus plugs.
His book is about his journey from Sudan to South African and how he had to endure many things.
