Paving the pathway for national uptake of a community-based surveillance system in Ethiopia

Haqila is an AI-powered community-based disease surveillance platform developed by Jimma University in Ethiopia to strengthen the early detection and monitoring of public health threats. While locally developed AI solutions like Haqila have significant potential to improve public health preparedness and response, many face challenges in achieving national adoption due to limited policy visibility, unclear governance frameworks, and a disconnect between technical innovation and decision-making processes.

This project aims to bridge these gaps by supporting a government-led pathway for integrating Haqila into Ethiopia’s national health system. It will consolidate existing evidence, tools, implementation experiences, and technical documentation into accessible resources tailored for policymakers and health system stakeholders. The project will also convene a national workshop, led by the Ministry of Health, to facilitate dialogue among government institutions, researchers, implementers, and other key actors, helping to build consensus around priorities, governance arrangements, and implementation needs.

By fostering institutional alignment and establishing a stronger evidence base, the initiative seeks to develop a shared roadmap for the adoption and scale-up of Haqila within Ethiopia’s health system. Ultimately, the project aims to strengthen the country’s capacity to leverage AI for public health surveillance, preparedness, and response through a nationally owned and sustainable approach.