Research done despite hardships
MELKAMU Kassa was shot and wounded, imprisoned and spent three days in a forest without food, water or shelter while doing research in Ethiopia for his doctorate from the University of Kwazulunatal (UKZN).
To say Kassa, an Ethiopian, faced great obstacles in his PHD studies is an understatement. What he endured was incredible, terrifying – enough to bring most people to their knees. Yet, he overcame the obstacles to graduate from the College of Health Sciences (CHS), fulfilling his life’s dream.
Kassa conducted his research amid Ethiopia’s civil unrest, which began in 2016, during his most crucial data collection phase.
The study, funded by the CHS, focused on health information and physical exercise for non-communicable disease prevention in the Ethiopian health-care system.
Kassa was able to pursue his dreams despite enduring assaults and hardships, including the displacement of his family
In August 2016, Kassa and others were arrested by the federal police while travelling from Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar. The arrests ended with the killing of 15 civilians by the security forces.
“Students, farmers, civil servants and factory workers were protesting against the government. Following the protests, there was gunfire, arbitrary arrests and human rights violations.”
Kassa supported his wife and child during his years of study, relying on the funding he received from UKZN. “When the unrest and violence started in Ethiopia, I lost hope of completing my PHD because my family had been displaced.
“My supervisor, Dr Jeanne Grace, was dedicated to making my dreams come true, and in 2017 I published my first article. This achievement allowed me to focus on my studies and to complete and submit my PHD dissertation.”
Kassa’s study revealed that in Ethiopia a lack of physical exercise, hypertension and an unhealthy diet were the top three risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDS). His study also revealed that 78% of health-care professionals working in Ethiopian hospitals were not integrating physical exercise as a strategy to prevent NCDS.
He also found that the built environment, lack of supportive policy, health-care professionals’ lifestyle, inadequate health information coverage of physical exercise benefits and hospital buildings were barriers to the integration of physical exercise into the healthcare system.
Grace said: “Dr Kassa is a very dedicated student. Despite his hardships at home, he never gave up and showed so much perseverance. I am extremely proud of him as he will be the first PHD student graduating from our department of a cohort of 20 Ethiopian nationals.”