History of Sr. Aklesia
Sister Aklesia served as registered nurse for 35 years in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, providing care to patients at ALERT (All Africa Leprosy Tuberculosis and Rehabilitation Training Center), Black Lion hospital and Ghandi Hospital, before retiring in 1989 to travel with her husband Moges Alemu to Lusaka, Zambia. In Zambia, her husband was on assignment at the behest of Ethiopian Airlines, and Sister Aklesia looked for an opportunity to put her nursing skills to use. She immediately began volunteering at a local clinic in Lusaka. Nursing was not just a profession for Sister Aklesia it was a passion. The desire to practice nursing was planted early and at a high cost for the young girl who would one day be the namesake of Adama’s first private general hospital. At the age of 8 years old Sister Aklesia lost her mother due to complications following childbirth and soon after her mother’s death, Aklesia’ s newly born infant brother also passed away. The heart break of losing both her mother and her infant brother left an imprint of loss in her heart which intersected with a curiosity and interest in the work of the healing hands of Sisters who cared for mother at the hospital in Gondar, where she grew up. Her curiosity and interest never waned, she wanted to be a part of this world where people worked to heal, to care and provide hope. Encouraged by her father Gebre-Hiwet Belete to study and pursue her education, Aklesia eventually enrolled in Princess Tsehai Nursing School.
While attending nursing school, Aklesia met Moges Alemu who attended General Aviation E College and soon after their graduation the couple was married. Sister’s Aklesia was mother of 6 children and in what was an uncommon feat at the time was a working mother, equally dedicated to her profession as well as her duties as mother and wife. Her passion for her family and patients was equally met with her passion for her faith as a devout Orthodox Christian. Sister Aklesia’s untimely death in 1992, was heart-rending for her family and in hopes of continuing her legacy of caring and healing, her husband established Aklesia Memorial General Hospital. Over the past 20 years the hospital has honored the memory of Sister Aklesia, by emulating and continuing the sincerity of care that she began. Her spirit lives on in the caring hearts and hands of the physicians, nurses and staff at Aklesia Memorial who live out the vision to provide compassionate care to every patient that walks through our doors.
