College of College of Graduate Studies
Top EPHA honours for Unisa PhD graduate
Dr Bekele Beayihun with his award
The College of Human Sciences would like to congratulate Dr Bekele Beayihun from Ethiopia on receiving a gold medal and certificate as a ‘Young public health researcher’ at the 33rd Annual Scientific Conference of the Ethiopian Public Health Association (EPHA).
Beayihun, who is a PhD graduate from Unisa, has published more than 65 research articles as an author and co-author in local and international peer-reviewed journals. Most of his research work focused on maternal and child health, family planning and reproductive health.
The winner of this coveted EPHA gold award said the award serves as encouragement to his colleagues to conduct outstanding research to increase their visibility and to help them excel in their respective research fields. He said that nobody conducts research with the intention of winning a prize. It is all about the joy of discovering something that no one knew before. He further explained that research not only wins the war against stereotypes, but it is also the key to defeating anxiety and its cousin, depression.
Beayihun expressed his sincere gratitude to his PhD supervisor, Professor Azwihangwisi Mavhandu-Mudzusi. ‘I cannot thank you enough for being my advisor, colleague, mentor, mother and co-researcher over the years and for guiding me on my journey: from weakness to strength, from grass to grace and from nothingness to something.’
He said the knowledge which his supervisor had imparted has been a great asset to his entire career thus far. Beayihun explained that he has learnt to value others' opinions and walk in their shoes to better understand differences. He says that he has learnt from Mavhandu-Mudzusi that one’s own healing comes from helping others. ‘I have learned to appreciate the beauty of a flower, the wonder of a view and the wisdom of the tides,’ he says. ‘I am truly grateful for all you have done for me.’ Beayihun indicated that he would never be able to repay Mavhandu-Mudzusi for what she has instilled in him and that he looked forward to working with her and Unisa in the future.
Dr Mengistu Asnake Kibret, Senior Country Director at Pathfinder International Ethiopia, applauded Beayihun on his achievement. ‘I would like to congratulate Dr Beayihun on this national-level recognition and his achievements over the past years,’ he said. He further added that two other members of the association had also received senior public health service and senior public health researcher awards.
Beayihun said that it has been his lifelong ambition to become involved in academic research. He further stated that the EPHA award will strengthen his capacity to grow and contribute as a productive and successful researcher to global scientific literature.
* By Nnana Jege, Communication and Marketing Specialist, College of Human Sciences
Publish date: 2022-03-18 00:00:00.0
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