Five Angels Health Center is constructed with a cost of 12.6 million birr, fully funded by Helen Gebregiorgis, in the town of Shire Endaselassie, Tigray Region.
SHIRE ENDASELASSIE (Semonegna) – Helen Worede Gebregiorgis has vivid memories of the deadliest fire accident in 2010 in Seattle, where she lost five of her family members including her brightest and brave sons.
She had shared a deep connection with her children before the worst accident occurred, on 12 June 2010 in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood, that tune in fact brings back memories of the nightmarish. Helen, then 31, lost two sons (13 and 5, respectively), a daughter and niece (6 and 7, respectively), a 22-years-old sister to one of the tragic and fatal fire accidents in Seattle.
A service, attended by a number of people from Shire town’s community and Regional officials, was held in memory of those who had died in the Seattle fire accident ten years ago. The remembrance this time is by building a memorial public health center in tribute of the deceased ones.
Still a resident of Seattle, WA, Helen stayed informed about circumstances back home in Ethiopia in which access to medical care plagued the country she left at the age of two. Learning that the mortality rate for mothers and children in Ethiopia is one of the highest in the world resonated with her and her loss. Determined to save as many mothers and children as possible, in 2018, Helen started Five Angels not-for-profit medical clinic named in honor of the children and family members she lost. Now, the medical clinic has grown to become a public health center, named Five Angels Health Center, constructed with a cost of 12.6 million birr, fully funded by Helen, in the town of Shire Endaselassie, Tigray Regional State, Ethiopia.
Five Angels Health Center has 16 wardrooms and other facilities and it has the capacity to serve more than 25,000 people in the town & neighboring communities.
Appreciating Helen’s bold gesture, Head of Tigray Region Health Bureau, Dr. Hagos Godefay said that Five Angels Health Center is a vital resource to boost health service accessibility in the town. Further, Dr. Hagos pledged Tigray Region Health Bureau will fulfill the necessary medical equipment and health professionals to the center within a short period of time.
To learn more about Helen’s NGO, Five Angels, click here.