A commencement ceremony for medical doctors graduated from Addis Ababa University (AAU), College of Health Sciences (CHS) was held at College of Business and Economics hall on Saturday, February 29, 2020.

Among 292 Doctors graduated, 183 of them Medical Doctors and the remaining 9 in Dental Medicine received their degrees. As stated during the ceremony, 30% of the graduates are female. It was also revealed that 74% of the students graduated with distinction.

Professor Tassew Woldehanna, President of Addis Ababa University, said in his congratulatory message that delivering community service is the final target of all educational endeavors.

According to Prof. Tassew, if the health services of a nation are not at good situation, they cannot contribute what is expected to the country and this imposes negative impacts on its development of economic, political and social spheres.

Professor Tassew further noted that the Health Education has to be given special emphasis from the basic to higher level. AAU believes that the sector should deliver services with wider and quality levels as 40% of the annual budget is allocated to the Collage of Health Science to support and strengthen the system, he added.

In his final point, Professor Tassew, advised the graduates to be ready to serve their country with high responsibility, accountability and transparency indicating as Medical Profession is different from other disciplines which is needed anywhere, at any time, by anyone (rich or poor, literate or illiterate), regardless of language, race and skin color,.

Professor Hirut Wolde Mariam, FDRE Minister of Science and Higher Education, on her keynote address stated that every community has an obligation to sustain and reach the final goal of the ongoing transformation and prosperity of the country. “In this regard, as one part of the community, graduates have responsibilities to support their country by their profession,” she further stated.

H.E Ato Demeke Mekonnen, Deputy Prime Minister of FDRE, remarked that Medical Profession has massive duties and desires extra commitment plus extra care. “Therefore, as our government and the society need more commitment from the graduates, you have to work with professional ethics wherever you go to serve your country”, he said.

Abel Tenaw Tessema, who graduated with 3.93 Great Distinction points, won this year’s gold medal and received it from H.E Ato Demeke Mekonnen. College of Health Sciences awarded different prizes to two female and two male students including the gold medalist.

By: Netsanet Merete

Photograph by: Andualem Assefa