Tana Research and Diagnostic Center Hosts International Conference on 3D Printing and Pediatric Rehabilitation

The Tana Research and Diagnostic Center (TRDC) at College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, has launched an international conference on 3D Printing and Pediatric Rehabilitation at the AYA Addis Hotel in Addis Ababa.

Organized in collaboration with ReachAnother Foundation and Alliance for Birth Defects, the conference brings together experts from Africa, Europe, and North America to explore the transformative role of technology in healthcare.

“This is more than a conference — it’s a partnership for transformation,” said Dr. Bekalu Wubshet, Chief Executive Director of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, during the welcome remarks. “We are witnessing how technology can bridge the gap between innovation and accessibility in healthcare.”

In her opening remarks, W/ro Aster Zaoude, Board Char, College of Medicine and Health Sciences,
“The true measure of technological progress lies not in invention alone, but in inclusion — in how equitably our discoveries reach and restore the lives of those most in need.”
Sessions on 3D technology featured presentations from Uppsala University (Sweden), Children’s National Hospital (USA), Bahir Dar University (Ethiopia), and the University of Turku (Finland). Researchers highlighted the growing impact of digital design, virtual planning, and additive manufacturing in enhancing surgical precision and rehabilitation outcomes.

In the prosthetics and orthotics session, Handicap International and universities from Gondar and Bahir Dar showcased progress in locally manufacturing assistive devices. A panel discussion underscored how 3D printing can make prosthetic care more affordable and adaptable across regional health facilities.

The pediatric rehabilitation session brought together specialists from the USA, Ethiopia, and Sweden to discuss family-centered approaches and multidisciplinary strategies for treating children with neuromuscular and orthopedic challenges.

A session on burn rehabilitation concluded the day, led by experts from Uppsala University Hospital (Sweden), Children’s National Hospital (USA), the Korean Hospital (Ethiopia), and Bahir Dar University. The discussions highlighted how international collaborations are enabling Ethiopia to integrate 3D printing into burn care and reconstructive surgery.

“What we are building here is not only knowledge — it’s capacity,” said Zewdie Mekonen, Corporate Director for Tana Research and Diagnostic Center. “These partnerships are the foundation of a new era in pediatric rehabilitation across Africa.”

The conference will continue Tuesday with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus,  policy discussions and partnership sessions focused on expanding 3D-based pediatric care solutions nationwide.