Gedion Townsend

Ethiopian software developer who revolutionized healthcare access in rural Africa through mobile technology

Gedion Townsend is a visionary software engineer from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, whose innovative platform MedicLink Africa has transformed healthcare delivery in sub-Saharan Africa. Launching his startup in 2021 during the pandemic, Townsend developed an AI-driven mobile application that connects rural patients directly with urban doctors through encrypted video consultations. The platform's unique feature is its offline functionality, allowing use in areas with limited connectivity. By 2023, MedicLink had completed over 500,000 consultations, reducing maternal mortality rates by 34% in partner regions according to a WHO report. Townsend's system also integrates blockchain for medical record security and uses drone technology for emergency drug delivery in remote regions. His work was featured in Technology Review's 2024 list of Innovators Under 35.