Image copyright
Hana Atsbeha
The healing of the coronavirus from an Ethiopian man believed to be at least 100 years old was “incredible,” one of the doctors who treated him told the BBC.
Aba Tilahun Woldemichael’s family says he is 114, which would make him the oldest man in the world, but there is no birth certificate to confirm his age.
People over the age of 80 are considered the most vulnerable if they catch the virus.
The centenary is now taken care of at home by his grandson.
Aba Tilahun tested positive for the virus during a random screening in his neighborhood in the capital, Addis Ababa, and was admitted to hospital before symptoms appeared, said Dr. Hiluf Abate on the program BBC Newsday.
This allowed the medical team to be proactive in his treatment and to follow the old man closely, he added.
Quarrel on the Nile: return to a dam that divides
Demonstration against Internet outages in Ethiopia
In the four days following his admission to the Yeka Kotebe Hospital’s severe coronavirus disease department, Aba Tilahun’s condition deteriorated as the virus replicated and had to be put on respiratory support, said Dr. Hiluf.
In all, he spent 14 days in hospital, and was treated with oxygen for more than a week.
Ethiopia, which has strict restrictions on coronavirus prevention, has recorded more than 5,000 confirmed cases and 81 deaths.
A tumultuous era
Image copyright
Getty Images
The Ethiopian government has organized random screenings to prevent the spread of the coronavirus
Although Yeka Kotebe cannot confirm that his patient is 114 years old, the medical team says that he is certainly over 100 years old and estimated that he would be 109 years old.
In his youth, he left southern Ethiopia to settle in Addis Ababa and lived turbulent times in his country.
He witnessed the Italian occupation between 1935 and 1941, the overthrow of Emperor Haile Selassie in 1974, the collapse of the Marxist regime in Derg in 1991, and he has now survived Covid-19.
Haile Gebreselassie wants to sue Facebook
Ethiopian inter-clan couples stigmatized
For years, he led a simple monk life in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. “Aba” is a title which means “Father”.
But when he was younger, he worked as an electrician, house painter and handyman, his 24-year-old grandson Binyam Lulseged Tilahun told the BBC.
Image copyright
Binyam Lulseged Tilahun
Aba Tilahun’s grandson, seen here with his grandfather several years ago, now takes care of him at home
His grandfather is doing well and seems healthy despite his age, but the effects of the virus have weakened his voice, said Binyam.
To stop the spread of the coronavirus, Ethiopia declared a state of emergency in April, closing schools and playgrounds, banning large gatherings and sporting events, and reducing the number of passengers in public transports. But the companies remained open.
Media playback is unsupported on your device
–
–
