In a groundbreaking initiative, experts from Tijuana, Mexico, and San Diego, USA, have created Umed.Me, an app designed to revolutionize healthcare for immigrants. This innovative cloud-based platform is a critical tool for migrants, enabling them to securely store their medical histories and access healthcare services throughout their journey.
Umed.Me extends beyond merely storing documents. It provides comprehensive healthcare services, including medical attention, nutrition guides, and medication information, fostering health and wellbeing within the migrant community. Its multilingual interface, including Spanish, English, Tamil, Haitian Creole, French, Arabic, Kurdish, Dari, and Russian, makes it accessible to a wide range of users.
The app allows migrants to register using just their name and nationality, without needing an email address. This feature is particularly beneficial for those in the process of seeking asylum, as it gives healthcare professionals access to essential information regardless of the user’s location. Moreover, Umed.Me’s mobile app is compatible with all operating systems and also has a web version, ensuring that users do not lose critical information even if they lose their device.
One of the most significant challenges in migrant healthcare is the lack of documentation, especially among children who often travel without medical records or carry multiple prescriptions. Umed.Me addresses this issue by providing a secure and accessible platform for storing and sharing medical information. This is particularly vital in places like Tijuana, where migrants often arrive with various health issues and injuries.
Recognizing the app’s potential, activists have trained city employees and shelter coordinators in Tijuana to assist migrants in using Umed.Me. There are plans to introduce the tool to the Baja California Health Department. Users like María Cortés, a mother of three from Michoacán, Mexico, have praised the app for its utility in managing documentation under challenging circumstances, such as fleeing from immediate dangers like organized crime.
Umed.Me is available for both Android and Apple devices and is entirely free. It can also be accessed via a computer, making it a versatile tool. Teqbahn Labs, the app’s developer, specializes in carbon-sensitive technology systems, aiming to promote better health and wellbeing. This app is more than a digital solution; it’s a lifeline for migrants seeking healthcare in a world constantly in motion.
