Why this doctor hid his homeless past
Emmanuel Taban left war-torn South Sudan as a homeless child with little education, but he’s now a successful doctor recognised for his life-saving care of Covid patients.
Emmanuel Taban spent his childhood as a witness to the violent civil war in Sudan. He grew up in what is now South Sudan but, by the time he was a teenager, he'd spent time in prison – falsely accused of being a rebel spy – and had then left his home. He ended up travelling across Africa, mainly on foot, sleeping on the streets and relying on the kindness of strangers for food. Eventually he reached South Africa where he got a scholarship to study medicine and opened up his own practice. For a long time, Emmanuel hid what he’d endured to fulfil his ambitions. (A longer version of this interview was first broadcast in September 2021.)
Presenter: Emily Webb
Producer: Katy Takatsuki
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo: Dr Emmanuel Taban. Credit: Darrel Fraser)
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