31/07/2026
A Tribute to a Pioneer: Mourning the Passing of Sister Birkenesh Kebede
Date: July 31, 2026
To: The Family of the Late Sister Birkenesh Kebede, the Ethiopian Nursing Community, and the General Public.
It is with profound sorrow and a deep sense of loss that the Ethiopian Nurses Association (ENA) announces the passing of one of our profession's most distinguished pioneers, Sister Birkenesh Kebede.
She passed away on ሀምሌ 23, 2018 E.C. (July 30, 2026 G.C.) at the age of 96.
Sister Birkenesh was a cornerstone of the Ethiopian nursing profession. As one of the first nine graduates of the Ethiopian Red Cross School of Nursing in 1949, she was part of a generation that laid the very foundation of modern nursing in our nation.
Her career was not merely a job; it was a lifelong mission of courage, compassion, and unwavering service to humanity.
Her legacy is forever intertwined with moments of global significance.
Following her graduation, she and her colleague, Sister Aster Ayana, were selected to serve with the 3rd Kagnew Battalion of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Korea from 1953 to 1954. As one of the first two Ethiopian nurses to serve in an international conflict zone, she provided critical medical care to wounded peacekeepers and served as a translator, demonstrating extraordinary bravery and professionalism. This service set a powerful precedent for future generations of Ethiopian nurses.
Upon her return, she continued her dedicated service in Ethiopia, working at St. Paul's Hospital and other health institutions across the country. Her contributions were recognized on the world stage when she received the prestigious Nightingale Medal, the highest international distinction a nurse can achieve. This honor is a testament to her "exceptional courage and devotion" to the wounded, sick, and vulnerable, and it places her in a select group of African women to have received this recognition.
Sister Birkenesh's life exemplified the very values that the Nurses strives to uphold: excellence in practice, advocacy for the health of the public, and the promotion of the nursing profession. She was a role model, a trailblazer, and an inspiration to the thousands of nurses we present today.
Her legacy will continue to inspire us as we work to improve the health and well-being of our society. She will be forever remembered as a symbol of mercy, heroism, and unparalleled national service. The Ethiopian Nurses Association remains committed to carrying forward the torch of excellence she so brilliantly lit for all of us.
May her soul rest in eternal peace.
About the Ethiopian Nurses Association (ENA)
Established in 1952, ENA is the first professional association in Ethiopia, legally recognized to represent the nursing profession. We are dedicated to standardizing and promoting quality nursing services through research, education, and leadership.
Contact
Ethiopian Nurses Association
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
[email protected]