July 2025 Update from Mahlet’s family 🙏🏾

My name is Deborah Girma and I am writing this to thank you for your support and generosity, on behalf of my family and friends.

My sister, Mahlet Girma, a Public Health professional, was living in San Francisco, California, when she was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2017.

She turned her pain into purpose, using her journey to educate and encourage others as well as to raise awareness and funds to help organizations dedicated to helping those impacted by Breast Cancer in Ethiopia and America. 

Mahlet was in communication with the Ministry of Health of Ethiopia to secure funding and grants to purchase mammogram machines to be installed in various public hospitals in different regions across Ethiopia when she unfortunately passed away from Breast Cancer at the age of 46 in September 2021. 

Inspired by Mahlet’s favorite Bible verse Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, her family and friends formed an informal group “Team413ForMahlet” with a commitment to carry on her dream.

While we mourned loosing her, we were inspired by so many people who wanted to donate money to making Mahlet’s dream come true.

We worked with an established foundation (Alemtsehay Breast Cancer Foundation now known as Alem Fre Pink House Cancer Foundation Inc., a 501(c) nonprofit), to collect and save all the donations that were coming through.

We joined our efforts together with another foundation, Alpha Breast Cancer Support Services, an organization based in Virginia, USA and for three years we did our due diligence to research for a proper machine and coordinate with medical and public health professionals in Ethiopia.

Fortunately, we were able to find and work with a medical equipment supplier based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and in October 2024 we were able to purchase a brand new General Electric Healthcare Senographe Pristina mammogram machine.

I am excited to tell you that the machine has been manufactured and was delivered to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on July 24, 2025.

It will be en route for installation at one of the main public hospitals in the city: Saint Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC) and will be used to provide free services to the low-income residents of the country.

4/11/2025 Update

How to help:
To donate or help our efforts, please send donations vial Zelle or directly to Bank of America at the account number listed below.
Zelle Account for the Mammogram Machine project:
Account name for Zelle: Alem Fre Pinkhouse Cancer Foundation Inc
Account email for Zelle: team413formahlet@gmail.com
or directly via deposit to Bank of America Account number: 3340 6207 7102

4/11/2025 Update
In late 2024, Team413ForMahlet and Alpha Breast Cancer Support Services signed a contract with a supplier to purchase a GE Healthcare Senographe Pristina mammogram machine (and related breast imaging equipment) for St. Paul Hospital Millennium Medical College, based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The machine is scheduled for delivery in mid 2025 and it will be of service free of charge to the low-income residents of the country who seek services at St. Paul Hospital.

Meanwhile, as April 11, 2025, marks the 50th birthday of our dear sister Mahlet, in her honor, we are teaming up with Pioneer Diagnostic Center, a private imaging company in Addis Ababa to provide access to mammography at a discounted rate to the women who currently do not have access to mammography at St. Paul hospital. We are also arranging with the wonderful and dedicated medical staff at St. Paul Hospital to have training for the mammogram techs in preparation for the delivery of the new machine.