Reports and Publications
The Status of Immunization Program and Challenges in Ethiopia: A Mixed Method Study
Immunization helps reduce morbidity and mortality attributable to severe vaccine-preventable childhood illnesses. However, vaccination coverage and the quality of immunization data remain challenging in Ethiopia. This has led to poor planning, suboptimal vaccination coverage, and the resurgence of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks in under-immunized pocket areas. The problem is further compounded by the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the disruption of the health information system due to recurrent conflict. This study assessed the current status of the immunization service and its challenges in Ethiopia.
DHA Annual Report (2022-2023)
The Digital Health Activity (DHA) is a six year, USAID-funded flagship project that supports the Ethiopian health sector to build a sustainable health information system (HIS). The DHA has made significant advancements in its four years. Discover the highlights of DHA’s journey over the past year with DHA’s newly released Annual Report for the 4th Year Activity. Dive into our achievements, stories, and progress, gain insights into our strategic initiatives and future plans.
Digital Health in Focus Volume 3 Issue 3
In this edition, we present insights into significant activities conducted by over the past quarter which includes stories from the field, coverage of the Global Digital Health Forum in 2023, and details about Ethiopia’s launch of the National Supply Chain Dashboard.
Barriers, facilitators and motivators of electronic community health information system use among health workers in Ethiopia
The electronic community health information system (eCHIS) has been implemented in Ethiopia to support health services delivered by community health workers. Despite the many benefits of digitizing community health information systems, the implementation of the eCHIS is challenged by many barriers resulting in low uptake.
Acceptability and use of the electronic community health information system and its determinants among health extension workers in Ethiopia: a retrospective cross‑sectional observational study
The electronic community health information system has been increasingly developed and deployed to quantify and support quality health service delivery by community health workers in Ethiopia.
Published Case Studies
Three case studies have been published on USAID Health System Strengthening (HSS) case competition under equity theme, discussed experience of implementing the Digital Health Activity in the following topics. Follow the links below to download the case studies.
- Change Pathways in Revolutionizing the Health Information System in Ethiopia
- Harnessing the Power of Technology in Emergency: Experience Implementing the Digital Health Activity through a Global Pandemic
- The Role of Digital Technologies in Ensuring Access and Availability of Medical Supplies in Ethiopia
Strategy for Mainstreaming Gender within Digital Health and Health Information Systems in Ethiopia (2023/24-2025/26)
The delivery of quality, accessible and affordable health services, products and information to all segments of the population is a priority agenda for the government of Ethiopia. The health information revolution (IR) is one of the key transformation agendas to achieve this objective. It is designed with two core pillars: transforming and advancing the data use culture and digitalization of the health system.
Digital Health in Focus Volume 3 Issue 2
In this Edition, we have insights into the major DHA activities
in the past quarter, stories from the field, the national health exhibition, and the new eLearning platform for Ethiopian Health Workers.
Digital Health in Focus Volume 3 Issue 1
In this issue, we have insights into the major DHA activities
in the past quarter, stories from the field, the new community safety alert
system, and Ethiopia’s experience in integrating digital tools.
Digital health response to the Covid-19 pandemic: Lessons to inform ongoing and future digital health investments
In responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, countries were challenged with gathering, using and analyzing data needed to ensure that their target populations received vaccines as per the recommended schedules. Ethiopia was able to implement various digital health innovations that provided high–quality information for timely epidemic response, community education, and critical supply chain adjustments. This experience from Ethiopia demonstrates the positive role of digital innovations in times of crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gender-Digital-Health Information System (HIS) Divide in Ethiopia
(Policy Brief)
The Gender-Digital-Health Information System (HIS) Divide, if left unfilled, has the potential to worsen the existing gender inequities in the health systems of developing countries including Ethiopia. The result of the national gender analysis in digital health and HIS spaces showed that gender perspectives are not adequately addressed. Filling this gap requires designing and implementing strategies to attain a gender-balanced digital health and HIS interventions.
DHA Annual Report (2021-2022)
The Digital Health Activity (DHA) is a five year (Oct. 2019-Sept. 2024), USAID-funded flagship project that supports the Ethiopian health sector to build a sustainable health information system (HIS). The DHA has made significant advancements in its three years of implementation despite the COVID-19 pandemic and social and political unrest in parts of the country.
eCHIS Implementation in Ethiopia: What Are We Learning from the National Survey? (Policy Brief)
As the electronic community health information system (eCHIS) has been developed, it’s increasingly been deployed to track and support services that health extension workers (HEWs) deliver in Ethiopia. eCHIS success depends on the acceptability of the technology among users. The Digital Health Activity (DHA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH), and Jimma, Gondar, and Haromaya Universities, conducted a study on the acceptability, usability, barriers, and facilitators of eCHIS from May 12–29, 2022.
Electronic Community Health Information System Implementation in Ethiopia: Achievements, Challenges, and the Way Forward
(Technical Brief)
Ethiopia launched its famous Health Extension Program (HEP) in 2003. Health extension workers (HEWs), the Ethiopian version of CHWs, are trained, government employed and salaried female frontline health workers who implement the HEP at the community level.
A Digital Health Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons
for Future Digital Health Investments
Following WHO’s declaration of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as a public health emergency of international concern, the pandemic exposed critical limitations in the global public health system, including Ethiopia. With a population of almost 120 million, Ethiopia has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the East Africa region and the 6th highest in all of Africa. As of July 2022, a total of 489,341 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed, of which 7,541 (1.54 percent) have died.
DHA Annual Report (2020-2021)
This report summarizes activities implemented by DHA during its second year (October 2020–September 2021). During this period, DHA implemented a wide range of activities reaching communities, health workers, health administrative units, public and private health facilities, and higher learning institutions.
DHA Annual Report (2019-2020)
This report summarizes activities implemented by DHA during its first year (October 2019–September 2020). During this period, DHA implemented a wide range of activities reaching communities, health workers, health administrative units, public and private health facilities, and higher learning institutions.
Digital Health in Focus Volume 1 Issue 1
This issue offers insights into the national digital health response to COVID-19 and describes a unique initiative to create a path for self-reliance by supporting small-scale social enterprises. We also invite you to view our 2019/20 annual report for more detailed information about our activities last year.
Digital Health in Focus Volume 1 Issue 2
This issue offers insights into the connected woreda strategy and implementation, new e-learning and capacity building practices in the HIS as well as a highlight women’s participation in the tech sector.
Digital Health in Focus Volume 1 Issue 3
This issue offers insights into our recent exciting activities – including Electronic Medical Record (EMR) launch, Youth Enterprise progress and Health Information system (HIS) Continuous professional development.
Digital Health in Focus Volume 1 Issue 4
This issue offers insights into our how we’re shifting focus to digitally transform health service delivery; lessons from the COVID-19 surveillance and tracking system implementation; the impact of leadership and attitude change for successful EMR implementation – and more!
DHA’s Overview
The USAID Digital Health Activity (DHA) works with the Government of Ethiopia (GOE) to build sustainable, resilient, and interoperable health information systems
(HIS) that ensure the entire health sector has the data, analytics, and skills necessary to improve the health and well-being of all Ethiopians. Together with the GOE and
other partners, the DHA is helping the country achieve its Information Revolution Roadmap, a critical component of the Health Sector Transformation Plan. DHA supports the Federal Ministry of Health to achieve transformational impact toward a sustainable, nationally owned and driven, electronic HIS in Ethiopia.