Denver Sister Cities International Axum Committee is embarking on its largest humanitarian endeavor in years: the shipment of a container of medical supplies and biomedical equipment to Aksum University College of Health Sciences and Comprehensive Specialized Hospital and Kidiste Mariam/St. Mary’s Hospital.
The committee is once again partnering with Project C.U.R.E., the internationally recognized humanitarian organization founded more than 40 years ago in Denver. Project C.U.R.E. also partnered with Denver Sister Cities in shipping the very first medical container to Axum in 1995, the same year Denver and Axum formally established their sister city relationship.
Today, Project C.U.R.E. ships approximately 200 containers annually and anticipates delivering roughly 220 containers worldwide in 2026, including this shipment to Axum. During its most recent fiscal year, 25 of the organization’s 199 shipped containers were delivered to Ethiopia, including shipments to Shire and Adigrat. The contents of each container are typically valued between $300,000 and $400,000 USD.
This particular shipment is especially significant because the Axum Committee retained the services of a professional medical assessor, who traveled to Axum in June 2025 to evaluate hospital facilities, services, and equipment needs directly with local medical leadership. The assessment enabled Project C.U.R.E. to provide valuable biomedical equipment tailored specifically to the needs identified at both hospitals.
The detailed evaluation also gave the committee the foundation needed to:
- plan the project
- raise essential funds
- strengthen partnerships
- coordinate logistics
- and develop a carefully prioritized manifest of medical supplies and equipment
A special thank you goes to:
- Dr. Tsegay Teklehaymanot of Aksum University College of Health Sciences & Comprehensive Specialized Hospital
- Dr. Zekarias Merha of St. Mary’s Hospital
for their patience, expertise, and collaboration throughout the assessment and manifest review process. The contents of the 40-foot container will be distributed carefully between the two hospitals according to the finalized manifest.
The container was loaded at the Denver warehouse of Project C.U.R.E. and departed Denver on April 20 for shipment from the Port of Long Beach, California on May 5. Its journey will continue through Shanghai and Saudi Arabia before arriving in Djibouti and traveling overland to Axum. Current estimates place the container’s arrival in Axum in late July or early August 2026.
As tracking information becomes available, the committee hopes to share updates and follow the shipment’s journey in real time.
The Axum Committee is deeply grateful to the many local donors and partners who helped make this initiative possible, including:
- the Tigray Disaster Relief Fund
- the Tigrai Community of Colorado
- Axum Teklu and a matching grant initiative
- and the many community members who contributed support, fundraising, and volunteer efforts
This shipment represents more than medical equipment—it is a symbol of solidarity, partnership, and the enduring friendship between Denver and Axum 🌍💙
