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| Quality of Life and Grand Award Winner of the 4th Annual Volvo for life Awards, Dr. Ingida Asfaw |
Doctor Dedicates Maternal Health Center to Volvo
posted: 04/19/2006
After learning he would receive a $50,000 donation from Volvo, Volvo for life Awards Grand Award Winner Dr. Ingida Asfaw announced he would use the funds to establish a state-of-the-art maternal health facility in his native country of Ethiopia. The facility will be called the Volvo Awassa Maternal Child Health Center. On April 12, the Detroit surgeon was recognized as the top hero of the Fourth Annual Volvo for life Awards. At a star-studded awards gala in Manhattan’s Rainbow Room, Dr. Asfaw was acknowledged for his work leading medical missions to Ethiopia, and for founding the non-profit Ethiopian North American Health Professionals Association (ENAHPA). His Grand Award includes a $50,000 contribution that will be made by Volvo to his organization, as well as a brand new Volvo vehicle every three years for the rest of his life. Dr. Asfaw’s story epitomizes the American immigrant dream. In 1958, he left Ethiopia for the United States aboard a cargo ship. In the words of his Volvo for life Awards nominator, he arrived in this country at sixteen “with little money, a small suitcase, and a big dream: to become a doctor and return to Ethiopia with healing hands.” Since arriving in the U.S., Dr. Asfaw has achieved his dream – and kept his promise. Through ENAHPA, he delivers critical medical treatment, supplies, training and education to the people of Ethiopia – a crucial mission in a country where the doctor-to-population ratio is 1:100,000. Among the many services ENAHPA provides are HIV/AIDS education and treatment; pre-natal care; childhood disease prevention; and numerous life-saving surgical procedures. Dr. Asfaw is also responsible for creating a program to care for over 500 AIDS orphans, and for founding a leprosy research center. In addition to his work in Ethiopia, Dr. Asfaw volunteers his services at local hospitals in his home city of Detroit. Dr. Asfaw was presented with a sterling silver trophy specially crafted by Tiffany and Company for this year’s Awards. Volvo’s CEO, Anne Bélec, and pop-star Avril Lavigne made the presentation. Upon receiving his trophy, Dr. Asfaw thanked Volvo, saying the company’s “commitment to social advancement distinguishes Volvo not only as a world-class automaker, but as a humanitarian leader.”
How You Can Help Ingida Asfaw, M.D.
To learn more about Dr. Asfaw and his cause, and how you can make a difference, please visit: www.enahpa.org.
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