Building on a legacy of delivering 136 containers of medical relief to Ethiopia worth more than $42 million, Project C.U.R.E. has launched a new initiative in 2024 specifically targeting the Oromia region. As one of Ethiopia’s most underserved areas, Oromia is home to over 35 million people and suffers from a dire lack of healthcare infrastructure, medical supplies, and trained personnel. According to the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), Oromia has one of the lowest densities of healthcare facilities in the country, leaving many residents without access to basic medical care.
Project C.U.R.E.’s 2024-25 Oromia initiative will address these challenges head-on by delivering 40 semi-truck sized containers of donated medical equipment and supplies, valued at approximately $16 million, to healthcare facilities across the region. This ambitious project will improve healthcare access and outcomes for millions of people in Oromia by ensuring that clinics and hospitals have the resources they need to serve their communities.
Support Medical Relief in Oromia, Ethiopia!
The project is a testament to the power of collective action, bringing together the worldwide Oromia diaspora community. The Jara & Jiru Foundation, Lammiif Relief and Development, and Mako Foundation have played a key role, raising over $900,000 to support this initiative. Additional key supporters have contributed toward the delivery costs of the containers. Recently, Islamic Relief Canada, a signature NGO partner secured another $500,000 in matching funds, bringing the total amount raised to over $1.64 million. Some organizations are helping with logistics and training. Haramaya University, located in Haramaya, Ethiopia, is a pivotal partner on the ground, ensuring the success of the project by helping to coordinate logistics and local healthcare needs. The university has coordinated with facilities receiving a container and have donated their time and human resources to assist in customs clearance and logistics for all 40 containers that will serve up to 50 facilities in the region. Islamic Relief Ethiopia has committed to assist all facilities receiving a container with biomedical support, training, and ongoing education opportunities.
Project C.U.R.E. also has the honor of working with diaspora members from Australia, Europe, Canada and the United States, demonstrating the global reach and unity of this collective. The combined efforts of these diaspora organizations and partners highlight the importance of partnerships in driving sustainable change in global healthcare. Diaspora members from all nations and regions should recognize their power and potential impact in changing healthcare outcomes. Collective efforts can lead to meaningful change, and the worldwide diaspora has an incredible opportunity to make a difference in the healthcare landscape of Ethiopia.
By the expected completion date of December 2025, fifty healthcare facilities across Oromia will receive donated medical equipment and supplies worth over $16 million. The result will be a significant improvement to healthcare access and outcomes across the region, providing health systems strengthening to some of the most underserved communities.
Building on the Delivery of Medical Equipment and Supplies with Education and Training
By targeting healthcare facilities at every level—from small health posts to major hospitals—the Oromia initiative is not only addressing immediate equipment and supply shortages, but also building the foundation for long-term improvements in Ethiopia’s broader healthcare system. However, the program’s approach goes beyond simply delivering medical relief. Following the delivery of medical supplies and equipment, the C.U.R.E. Clinics program will provide comprehensive medical support, training, and education in the health of women and children, ensuring that Oromia healthcare workers have the skills and knowledge to effectively treat their patients. Through the C.U.R.E. Clinics program, volunteer medical providers will travel to recipient hospitals and clinics to work together with local doctors and nurses. This focus on capacity-building is essential to creating sustainable healthcare solutions that will benefit the communities for years to come.
A Healthy Lifeline for Ethiopia’s Future
While Project C.U.R.E. has already made a significant impact in Ethiopia, there is still much work to be done. The Oromia project represents an opportunity to transform healthcare in one of Ethiopia’s most vulnerable regions. However, to fully realize this vision, additional funding and support are needed.
The Ethiopian diaspora continues to raise money for additional shipments of medical supplies and equipment. Other members of the Ethiopian community gather at Project C.U.R.E. warehouses to help sort, pack and ship the forty-foot ocean freight containers. To join with this ambitious initiative by donating or volunteering with Project C.U.R.E., contact us at Project C.U.R.E. Houston.
