Clinic in Lalibela: land purchase, laying of the foundation stone in January and now the building permit by the authorities

It will be called PBF Memorial Clinic and will serve as a present and future reminder of PBF’s valuable work in this Holy City. This project was born as a personal initiative of three PBF graduates from Lalibela: Abebe Zewdu (BSc,

MSc and MA candidate), Getachew Sale (BSc, MSc, MPH and PhD candidate) and Dr. Tadesse

Taye (BSc and MD). January 5 was the groundbreaking ceremony by Peter Bachmann.  The project, the building program and many more administrative things now had to be approved by the authorities.  First, the initiators approached the mayor’s office and from there they went through a comprehensive bureaucratic approval process over a period of five months. The issues at stake were the urgency, effectiveness, sustainability of this clinic.

The authorities from the education and health departments, the the land administration, the tax office, the water and waste disposal office, and even the culture and

Tourism Office, Investment and Industry Office, even the Communication Office, Youth and Sports Office, even the Peace and Security Office…they all signed on June 7, 2023 – together with the current Mayor of Lalibela City, Mrs. Tesfa Habtie, the building permit.

The construction started immediately. It is a great challenge for the initiators, indeed for the whole PBFamily. It is a matter of coordinating the many new employment opportunities. Construction experts, carpenters, bricklayers, security personnel and many other people are recruited from the very large PBF circle of those in need of help. Many day laborers will find work. Among the employees will be former PBF students, also job seekers …Now we look for building materials such as sand, wood, stones, cement and necessities for the work.

Grateful, confident, and full of hope, we are happy to inform all interested parties of PBF that the Memorial Clinic has taken concrete shape. We thank all the donors who have made this possible.

Abebe Zewdu, Getachew Sale and Dr. Tadesse Taye