How Zanzibar Built a Health System Fit for the Digital Age
Learn how Zanzibar built a health system fit for the digital age.
Jamii ni Afya
Zanzibar's digitally enabled community health system delivering high-quality healthcare for all.
Everyone deserves access to high-quality healthcare no matter who they are or where they live, but more than half of the world’s population—over 4 billion people—lack essential health coverage.
In Zanzibar, too many women and children experience poor health or die prematurely because of persistent barriers keeping them from getting the care they need, but digital technologies have an unprecedented potential to remove these barriers and improve access to and the quality of health services
Jamii ni Afya is transforming how people access care by connecting every household to community health volunteers in the world’s first government-led, digital community health program at full national scale.
By equipping community health workers with digital tools and positioning them inside a digitally enabled health system, we can help everyone get the healthcare they need, when they need it.
Download the Jamii ni Afya Program Brief to learn how.
Jamii ni Afya is
SAVING LIVES
Supporting pregnant women to deliver in health facilities with skilled birth attendants can reduce a majority of preventable maternal deaths.
CONNECTING COMMUNITIES
Effective referral systems help people get timely care when they need it and are estimated to save nearly two-thirds of preventable newborn deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa every year.
DELIVERING HEALTH FOR ALL
Connecting every household to community health volunteers in a comprehensive digital system improves equitable access to essential health services.
and improving health outcomes
85%
of pregnant women deliver in a health facility with skilled birth attendants
99%
of pregnant women and children identified with danger signs who are referred to a health facility receive needed services
100%
of Zanzibaris have access to a digitally equipped community health volunteer at their doorstep, ensuring everyone receives quality healthcare
Testimonials
"We are extremely proud that the Jamii ni Afya program is now serving every community and ensuring that every Zanzibari can access high-quality healthcare. This represents an important milestone in our long-term partnership with D-tree, and a meaningful step toward achieving universal health coverage. With Jamii ni Afya, we are creating a foundation for transforming Zanzibar's primary health system. The Ministry is committed to leading Jamii ni Afya into the future and to continue increasing demand for health services, improving the quality of care provided, and actively involving communities in the health system."
-- Dr. Abdullah S. Ali,
Director General, Zanzibar Ministry of Health
Stories
Community health volunteers are supporting families all across Zanzibar. Here are three stories of clients and families who have benefitted from the support of dedicated community health volunteers in Jamii ni Afya.
Our Partners
Jamii ni Afya’s design, implementation, and scale-up was made possible by the generous support of funders and partners around the world.
Jamii ni Afya News
Help us continue to transform primary healthcare in Zanzibar so everyone can live a healthy life.
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To learn more about Jamii ni Afya or how to get involved.
