The Ethiopian Minister of Health has recently been digitizing healthcare systems, especially in rural Ethiopia. The current paper-based system can be bureaucratic and inefficient. The digital systems will ultimately increase accuracy, efficiency and reach for health care providers.

Bogalech has served the Tembaro District as a healthcare worker for the last 16 years. She, along with one other healthcare worker, provides frontline medical care for a community of more than 7,000 people.

“I would say the app is like an ‘office-less doctor’ who would manage everything there-off. Moreover, it increased my confidence…As a result, many mothers are bringing their children to our health post looking for better treatment through the mobile application.”

- Fikire, Health Extension Worker, Belela Health Post

WEEMA is joining forces with the Ethiopian government to expand digital healthcare services across the country.

Over the past 2½ years, WEEMA and D-tree International have developed and distributed a mobile healthcare tool that is helping 100 local health extension workers (HEWs) in the Tembaro and Hadero districts diagnose childhood illnesses like diarrhea, pneumonia, and malaria.

When he was just a one-year-old child, Kurabachew Abiyu was hospitalized at Jimma General Hospital with a serious illness. He was treated and fully recovered. Then, as a young adult, a close friend developed a software program that tracked patient visits at hospitals.

“The app guides me through each step. It makes our life simple. I consider the application as a ‘‘virtual doctor’’ that assists me to the right diagnosis and treatment.” - Bette, Health Extension Worker