The platform aims to enhance the general public’s preparation for timely decisions in case of health crises because it is the foundation for efficient crisis management. 

The Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) launched Tuesday (June 7), a digital public health emergency contact platform accessible by calling 8335. Developed by the Ministry of Innovation and Technology and the Mastercard Foundation, it provides critical health information, notably regarding Covid-19, yellow fever, cholera, Guinea worm, and monkeypox outbreaks.

 “In addition to providing health information, this digital technology responds to frequently asked questions through Interactive Voice Response (IVR). This significantly reduces the time health professionals at the contact center would take to respond to inquiries. The fact that the system receives and delivers messages quickly enables the provision of information to be delivered more efficiently and simply,” explains State Minister for Information Technology Huria Ali.

According to a release from the Mastercard Foundation, the “system greatly enhances the country’s current health system.”  “The platform provides and receives public health information from the COVID-19 portal and District Health Information System 2 (DHIS-2), as well as other relevant data systems,” it adds explaining that the involved parties are committed to improving the platform for timely and reliable services.  

“With this new digital service, the public will be able to make more informed decisions about their health. In addition, lessons learned from this digital platform will further contribute to our digital work across various portfolios. By leveraging the power of technology, we will achieve increased efficiency and connectedness across Ethiopia,” indicates Samuel Yalew Adela, Mastercard Foundation’s country head.  

Ruben Tchounyabe