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Year: 1964
Who: Aklilu Lemma
Where: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
What: Dr. Aklilu Lemma was an Ethiopian pathologist and public health pioneer whose groundbreaking work in combating schistosomiasis, a debilitating parasitic disease, earned him international acclaim. Born on September 18, 1935, Lemma pursued his education at Addis Ababa University and Johns Hopkins University, where he earned his D.Sc. in 1964. His dissertation on sandfly-borne leishmaniasis marked the beginning of a career devoted to addressing critical health challenges.
Lemma’s most significant contribution came early in his career when he discovered that the berries of the Endod plant (Phytolacca dodecandra), traditionally used for soap and shampoo in Africa, were a potent, affordable, and safe molluscicide. This natural solution effectively targeted freshwater snails that spread schistosomiasis (also known as snail fever or bilharzia). This parasitic disease, caused by the Schistosoma worm, affects millions globally, particularly in resource-limited regions. Lemma’s discovery transformed the Endod plant into an object of international scientific interest and provided a sustainable and cost-effective means of disease prevention.
In Ethiopia, Lemma founded the Institute of Pathobiology at Addis Ababa University, now named the Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology in his honor. He led research that not only advanced global understanding of parasitic diseases but also integrated scientific innovation into local public health strategies. In 1989, Lemma and his colleague, Dr. Legesse Wolde-Yohannes, received the prestigious Right Livelihood Award for their work on Endod, often referred to as the "Alternative Nobel Prize.
Lemma’s influence extended beyond Ethiopia. He served in various capacities at the United Nations, including as Deputy Director of UNICEF’s Innocenti Research Centre, and later returned to Johns Hopkins University as a distinguished scientist. He passed away on April 5, 1997, leaving behind a legacy of innovation, dedication, and impact in global health, celebrated worldwide and in his native Ethiopia.
Sources:
Lemma, A. (1970). Laboratory and field evaluation of the molluscicidal properties of Phytolacca dodecandra. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 42(4), 597.
Addis Ababa University. (n.d.). Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology. https://www.aau.edu.et/alipb/
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