Amidst the joy and celebration of his own wedding day, Dr. Biruk Weyisha, a young surgical specialist, received an urgent call. A patient's life hung in the balance at the very hospital where he had only recently begun working. Without hesitation, Dr. Biruk made a decision that has since captivated the local community: he left his wedding ceremony to answer the call of duty.
Dr. Biruk, a surgeon at Bebele Primary Hospital in the Wolayita Zone of South Ethiopia Region, was over 40 kilometers away at his wedding celebration when the emergency arose. A patient was suffering from a life-threatening condition related to stomach illness, requiring immediate surgical intervention.
"I traveled over 40 kilometers from where the wedding ceremony was taking place to the hospital," Dr. Biruk recounted to EBC, "and I was able to save a human life by performing the surgery."
His swift action was critical. It was stated that the patient's life could well have been lost if treatment had not been provided promptly.
Dr. Biruk is a recent addition to Bebele Primary Hospital, being the first specialist hired as the facility only recently established comprehensive surgical treatment services. He had only been on the job for three weeks when the emergency occurred.
He is quick to credit his colleagues, emphasizing that surgery is a team effort. Dr. Biruk expressed his deep gratitude to the entire medical team that participated in the critical operation.
Speaking about the 40-year-old patient, who is now in good health, Dr. Biruk shared his profound satisfaction. "There is no greater joy than this," he said.
For Dr. Biruk, the decision was rooted in his commitment to his profession. "I will never break the oath I took and the promise I made in my profession; I will give my profession the respect it deserves," the young doctor affirmed. His dedication on his most personal day has become an inspiring story of medical commitment in the community.