My name is Marvin Mutugi Mbae (Mutugi/Marvo), a trained nurse with a diploma in nursing and a strong passion for digital health innovation. Living and working near the slopes of Mt. Kenya, I have seen firsthand how communities struggle with access to affordable, quality healthcare.
When I joined the Digital Health Skills for Africa Program, I was eager to learn how digital tools could complement my nursing background to transform healthcare delivery. This program has been life-changing — giving me the skills, mentorship, and confidence to establish MediReach, a hybrid health model that merges in-person care with digital health solutions.
Program Impact
- Creation of MediReach – A Hybrid Health Clinic
The program exposed me to practical insights in telemedicine, health information systems, and digital health ecosystems. This knowledge guided me in founding MediReach Clinic, which integrates:
In-person consultations for direct patient care.
Telehealth services (video, chat, and in-person booking) for patients in remote areas.
This hybrid model ensures that healthcare is accessible, affordable, and scalable, especially for underserved populations.
- Development of MediReach Chatbot
With the program’s emphasis on digital engagement tools, I built the MediReach Nurse Chatbot on WhatsApp. The chatbot:
- Provides basic symptom guidance.
- Share health education content.
- Assists in appointment scheduling.
You can interact with the MediReach Chatbot here:
The chatbot has extended our clinic’s reach beyond physical walls, making healthcare interactive and available 24/7.
- Jac Programming & Technical Growth
Through the program, I was introduced to Jac programming, which opened my eyes to building smarter digital health solutions. Jac has helped me start experimenting with:
AI-powered symptom checkers.
Predictive health tools for community health.
Building blocks for future AI-integrated EMR systems.
These skills are setting the foundation for the next phase of MediReach innovations.
- Building Capacity & Leadership
The program strengthened my ability to:
- Design a patient-centered EMR system (offline-first for rural use).
- Draft health IT security policies for protecting patient data.
- Integrate Community Health Promoters (CHPs) into the digital ecosystem for better follow-up.
- Advocate for digital health adoption through my LinkedIn newsletter and community engagements.
- Community & Collaboration
Beyond the technical skills, this program gave me a supportive community. The engagement with founders, facilitators, and fellow cohort trainees has been inspiring. Their mentorship, collaboration, and shared experiences continue to motivate me to push further and dream bigger in digital health.
Gratitude
The Digital Health Skills for Africa Program has been more than a training — it has been a catalyst for innovation and impact. Through it, I created MediReach Clinic (a hybrid in-person and digital health model) and the MediReach Chatbot, while also gaining critical skills in Jac programming and digital health leadership.
I am deeply grateful to the founders, facilitators, and my fellow trainees for building such a transformative platform. Together, we are shaping a healthier, digitally empowered Africa.
Connect with Marvin & MediReach
LinkedIn (Personal): Marvin Mutugi
Facebook (Personal): Marvin Mutugi
Facebook Page (MediReach Clinic): MediReach Medical Clinic
YouTube Channel: MediReach Medical Clinic
