Our projects in lung health

Ethiopia had a total population of approximately 115 million people in 2020. In that year, 151,000 estimated people developed TB. Among them, 17,000 were children. Moreover, there were 42,807 missing people with TB (of which 6,161 were children).

In 2019, Delft Imaging delivered four mobile tuberculosis screening clinics (fitted with the EasyDR X-ray system) OneStopTB clinics, to the Ministry of Health in Ethiopia. Each mobile TB clinic came with the CAD4TB solution – a software solution to detect TB-related abnormalities on chest X-rays automatically.

In 2023, we supplied 30 mobile X-ray systems, the MAC X-ray system, and the CAD4TB artificial intelligence software to the Ministry of Health of Ethiopia. The project included centralised training sessions across different provinces and came with the necessary maintenance services.

For more information on how the OneStopTB mobile clinics and the CAD4TB artificial intelligence software have been used in Ethiopia, please view the story of ‘The Introduction of CAD4TB in Ethiopian NTLP’, as presented by Dr Daniel Gemechu, Regional Director of MSH in Ethiopia. The story was presented during the Delft webinar of 2022.

Our projects in maternal health

Ethiopia has achieved a notable decline in maternal mortality, with 195 deaths per 100,000 live births recorded in 2023, a drop from 250 in 2021. Although the ratio remains high compared to global benchmarks, this trend reflects ongoing progress. Continued investment in antenatal care, obstetric services, and early risk-detection technologies can support further reductions and move the country closer to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3.1.

Since 2015, Delft Imaging has worked to strengthen maternal healthcare in Ethiopia by developing and deploying BabyChecker. In collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, CUAMM, and St. Luke Hospital Wolisso, we collected ultrasound scans using the six-sweep protocol to train the BabyChecker algorithm.

In 2018, a proof-of-concept study was conducted at St. Luke Hospital with support from CUAMM and Engender Health. Midwives participated in the study following a brief training session. Observations and feedback from healthcare workers and medical professionals confirmed the usability and acceptance of BabyChecker in improving maternal, neonatal, and child health services.

CUAMM procured one BabyChecker unit in 2024, which is currently used at Dharwanaje Health Centre to support antenatal care.

Since May 2025, Debre Berhan University has been leading an implementation study evaluating the integration of BabyChecker into primary maternal healthcare services. The study aims to assess its impact on maternal and newborn health outcomes, service utilization, and cost-effectiveness in Ethiopia.

Making a Difference

A 2023 study on the accuracy of CAD4TB in Ethiopia highlights CAD4TB’s potential in high-burden settings for its efficiency and cost-effectiveness, processing up to 132 images per day at less than $6 per person. CAD4TB V.7, specifically, is noted for its high effectiveness in settings with high TB burden. Evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of the CAD4TB software compared to the Xpert MTB/RIF test in detecting tuberculosis, the study attested that CAD4TB’s sensitivity ranges from 90% to 92%, while its specificity varies between 23% to 66%.

In 2024, the Stop TB Partnership’s Board Report elaborated on the impact of our solutions, particularly on how optimising CAD4TB’s connectivity strengthens healthcare infrastructure in the country. “Connectivity – Diagnostics connectivity solutions were introduced and strengthened using a variety Ethiopia’s network of GeneXperts is now connected to the LabXpert software. Stop TB supported the adoption of LabXpert under the USAID-funded introducing New Tools Project (iNTP). Use of 99DOTS in Bangladesh (source: icddr,b) of technologies in five countries, including MedX LabXpert, SystemOne Aspect and a domestically developed solution Tibulims. Dashboards connected data from GeneXpert, Truenat and CAD4TB systems, allowing for real-time nationwide monitoring of instrument performance and rapid transfer of results, and facilitating earlier treatment of people with TB and DR-TB.

Case Study

Ethiopia’s use of OneStopTB Clinics with EasyDr digital X-ray and CAD4TB has significantly enhanced TB screening, especially in pastoralist communities. This approach demonstrates a marked increase in TB case detection, highlighting the effectiveness of combining AI with traditional screening methods.

Read the full case study “TB Screening in Pastoralist Communities with OneStopTB Mobile Clinic.”