Lia Tadesse Gebremedhin, born in 1976 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is a distinguished physician and public health leader.
LIA TADESSE PROFILE
| Name | Lia Tadesse |
| Real Name | Lia Tadesse Gebremedhin |
| Date Of Birth | 1978 |
| Age | 48 Years |
| Nationality | Ethiopian |
| Occupation | Physician |
| Religion | Christian |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Net Worth | N/A |
| Copied From | Contents101.com |
LIA TADESSE BIOGRAPHY
Born in 1976 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Dr. Lia Tadesse Gebremedhin was raised by an entomologist father and an educator mother, which fostered her early interest in medicine.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Lia attended Miskaye Hizunan Medhanealem School for elementary education and Etege Menen Secondary School, excelling academically. Dr. Lia earned her medical degree from Jimma University and specialized in obstetrics and gynecology at Addis Ababa University. She also holds a Master’s degree in Health Care Administration from Jimma University.
CAREER
Dr. Lia has over 22 years of experience in Ethiopia’s health sector. She began her career as a senior obstetrician and gynecologist at the Federal Police Referral Hospital in Addis Ababa. In 2007, she became the CEO and Vice Provost of St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College in Addis Ababa, serving for seven years. From 2014 to 2015, she was the Program Director at the University of Michigan’s Center for International Reproductive Health Training (CIRHT), collaborating with institutions in Ethiopia and Rwanda to enhance reproductive health services and training. She also served as the Project Director of USAID’s Maternal and Child Survival Program at Jhpiego-Ethiopia. ​
In November 2018, Dr. Lia was appointed State Minister of Health and, in March 2020, she became the Minister of Health of Ethiopia. During her tenure, she led the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on building health system resilience, increasing oxygen and critical care capacity, and initiating vaccine manufacturing in the country. She was also co-chair of the COVAX AMC Engagement Group and the Global Financing Facility Investors Group, and served as Vice Board Chair of the Africa CDC. ​
As of March 2024, Dr. Lia serves as the Executive Director of the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program and is a Visiting Lecturer on Global Health and Population at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She remains committed to strengthening health systems and improving access to quality health services.​
CONTROVERSIES
Dr. Lia’s tenure as Ethiopia’s Minister of Health has been marked by significant challenges, particularly concerning the Tigray region. In March 2021, during a visit to Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, she claimed that “seventy percent of health care facilities were fully functioning.” However, reports suggest that many facilities were nonfunctional or destroyed, leading to accusations of misinformation and inadequate support for the region’s healthcare needs. Additionally, her coordination of international fund drives reportedly excluded Tigray and parts of Oromia, raising further concerns about equitable healthcare distribution.
LIA TADESSE SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLE
https://et.linkedin.com/in/liatadessegebremedhin
PERSONAL LIFE
Lia Tadesse is married and a proud mother. She has openly expressed how much her husband has been her biggest supporter throughout her career. After a four-year courtship, she married him, and she credits much of her success to his unwavering encouragement and support.
LIA TADESSE NET WORTH
Specific details regarding Dr. Lia Tadesse’s net worth are not publicly available.