Dr. Emmanuel Taban Travels an Unforgiving Path to Become Africa’s Leading Pulmonologist

Nairobi, 

Saturday, 14 December, 2024 

McCreadie Andias 

"Dr. Emmanuel Taban is just amazing," Dominique Dos Santos says, describing how a boy who nearly failed to realize his dreams gave her husband, Jose Dos Santos, a second chance at life.

Dr. Taban’s story begins in 1979 in an obscure village in South Sudan, where he recalls a humble and happy childhood. Raised by a single mother in a dilapidated homestead, life was modest but content.

Suddenly, an incomprehensible twist of events struck his country—a bloody civil war fueled by political intolerance as South Sudan neared independence. Forced to evacuate, Taban’s family fled to Juba, seeking refuge in a city where peace seemed fleeting at best. But their escape felt like jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.

At just 14 years old, Taban was arrested by the military and imprisoned in a notorious detention center known as "The White House." Here, he endured six weeks of mutilation and unspeakable ordeals. Life became a living nightmare during this dark chapter. Eventually, he was transferred to Khartoum, where he was forcefully converted to Islam.

Unable to endure any more suffering, Taban made a life-altering decision. At 16, he fled to Eritrea, embarking on a treacherous journey toward freedom. The long and grueling trek from Eritrea to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia—a distance of 2,800 kilometers—was the beginning of a new chapter. It was a journey fueled by sheer willpower, one that most people would never dare to undertake.

Though it is said that blood is thicker than water, Taban’s experience told a different story. When he sought refuge with his uncle in Nairobi, he was turned away and referred to a refugee camp instead. "I was crying. I was angry. That was the moment I decided to find my own identity. I knew I was alone in the world and had to face life on my own," Taban recounted in an interview with Carte Blanche's Masake Gana.

As the saying goes, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step," but for Taban, his journey of survival was just beginning. He crossed wildernesses, deserts, and perilous forests teeming with dangerous animals. From Kenya to Tanzania and Mozambique, he traversed long, unending roads and remote villages with no one to call a friend.

"I’m never afraid of animals, but I’m very afraid of human beings," Taban admitted. "Animals will never hurt you, but human beings will."

A turning point came in Mozambique, where Taban encountered a group of Cambodian missionaries who took him under their wing. They provided him with the opportunity to study, and his intelligence soon became evident. He excelled in his studies, earning marks high enough to secure a place at Medunsa (now Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University) in South Africa. His journey to becoming a doctor had begun.

Taban’s academic journey mirrored his physical one—arduous but ultimately rewarding. His medical studies culminated in a specialization as a pulmonologist, a lung specialist—a decision that would later place him on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19.

But Medunsa gave him more than a degree. It also introduced him to his wife, Motheo Taban, with whom he now shares three children. Asked to describe her husband, Motheo said, "He is so driven—the ambition, the passion he has for his work, and the compassion with which he treats his patients."

Dr. Taban currently works at Midstream Mediclinic, where he has become renowned for his groundbreaking work in treating COVID-19 patients. Among his most revolutionary innovations is the bronchoscopy procedure, which has saved countless lives.

One such life is that of Jose Dos Santos, whose wife, Dominique, shares their story. After contracting COVID-19, Jose returned home struggling to breathe. A terrified Dominique rushed him to Midstream Mediclinic, praying for a miracle. Dr. Taban reassured her that everything would be fine.

A study had found that many COVID-19 patients initially responded well to treatment but later deteriorated and died. Dr. Taban and his team hypothesized that mucus plugs accumulating in the bronchial airways were blocking airflow, causing rapid decline. Against World Health Organization recommendations, he performed a bronchoscopy procedure, inserting tiny tubes into the lungs to remove the mucus plugs.

Within hours of the procedure, patients—including Jose Dos Santos—recovered fully. This life-saving technique earned Dr. Taban global recognition as the first pulmonologist to successfully perform such a procedure on COVID-19 patients.

Grateful families often return to Dr. Taban with awards and gifts, thanking him for giving their loved ones a second chance at life. "That day, I knew what Dr. Taban had done had brought him back to us," Dominique Dos Santos said.

Dr. Emmanuel Taban’s journey—from a refugee boy who trekked across unforgiving terrains to Africa’s leading pulmonologist—is nothing short of extraordinary. His story is one of resilience, innovation, and compassion, inspiring countless people across the globe.

Dr. Taban, Africa’s superhero, reminds us that no matter how daunting the journey, the destination can be life-changing—not just for oneself, but for the entire world.