Ethiopia has made steady progress in the provision of health

“Ethiopia has made steady progress in the provision of health services over the past two decades. But nothing has prepared us for threats posed by Covid-19.” — Abiy Ahmed

Hear, O children of the earth, the words of Abiy Ahmed, the leader of Ethiopia, spoken in the shadow of one of the greatest trials of our age. In this utterance, he honors the strides of a nation — the long, steadfast march toward health and healing, built not by miracle, but by the labor of countless hands. Yet he also confesses the humility of humankind before a storm unseen, a storm that swept across all nations — the Covid-19 pandemic. His words carry both pride and sorrow, triumph and truth: that even the mightiest progress can tremble when faced with a foe that knows no border, no creed, no mercy. In this, Abiy speaks not only for Ethiopia, but for all humanity, who in one hour were reminded of the limits of their wisdom and the fragility of their world.

The origin of this saying lies in the crucible of the pandemic that began in 2019 and spread swiftly across the globe. Ethiopia, like many nations, had walked the path of growth and reform for years, expanding hospitals, training doctors, and reaching the poor with vital care. The nation’s spirit of resilience and renewal had inspired many across Africa. Yet when the invisible enemy came — when Covid-19 crossed continents on the breath of travelers and the wind of trade — no amount of preparation could still the fear, or the sorrow, or the sudden silence of streets once alive. In these words, Abiy does not lament failure, but speaks the truth of the human condition: that progress is never absolute, and that even strength must bow before the mysteries of nature.

Ethiopia’s story mirrors that of the world itself. Nations great and small, rich and poor, found themselves equalized by vulnerability. The virus respected no wall of wealth, no fortress of power. In those early days, humanity rediscovered a lesson long forgotten — that health is not a possession, but a shared inheritance; that when one nation suffers, all feel the tremor. Abiy’s recognition of this truth is the mark of wisdom. His words are not those of defeat, but of awakening: a call to humility, and a reminder that science and policy must walk hand in hand with compassion, foresight, and unity.

Consider, O listener, the story of Emperor Menelik II, who once led Ethiopia through battles of survival against mighty foreign powers, preserving the nation’s independence when many others fell. His triumph at Adwa was not born of numbers or weaponry, but of unity, courage, and an unyielding belief in sovereignty. In the same spirit, Abiy’s Ethiopia faced the invisible war of disease — not with swords and shields, but with doctors, nurses, and the quiet strength of ordinary people. In the villages and cities, in clinics and classrooms, citizens learned to protect one another — wearing masks, caring for the sick, sharing what little they had. Though the enemy was unseen, the battle was no less real, and the courage no less great.

Through these words, Abiy reveals a profound truth about the nature of progress. For two decades, Ethiopia had strengthened its health systems — yet progress, though steady, is a river that never reaches the sea. Each victory builds a foundation, but the future always brings new storms. The Covid-19 pandemic was a test of not only medicine, but of spirit — a challenge that reminded the world that wisdom must grow alongside technology, and compassion alongside ambition. The heart must expand as the mind evolves, or else humanity will always be caught unprepared by the next tempest.

The lesson in this saying is clear and eternal: no nation, no person, is ever fully prepared for the unknown. But through humility and solidarity, through continual investment in health, education, and the well-being of all, humanity can rise again and again. Let the people of the earth remember: public health is not a luxury, but the foundation of civilization itself. It is the bridge between survival and flourishing, between chaos and peace. When one invests in the health of the people, one invests in the future of the nation.

Therefore, O listener, take this wisdom into your heart: celebrate progress, but do not let it make you blind to vulnerability. Honor the healers, the teachers, the scientists, for they are the guardians of the living. Prepare not only for prosperity, but for peril; not only for peace, but for trial. For as Abiy Ahmed has shown, even when the storm strikes unannounced, those who have labored long in compassion and unity will endure. And when the darkness passes, as all storms do, the world will rise again — stronger, wiser, and more grateful for the fragile, sacred gift that is life and health.