The Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) in Durban focused on self-reliance. Landry Dongmo Tsague, inaugural director of Africa CDC’s Centre for Primary Health Care, said artificial intelligence and digital tools can help protect Africa’s 1.4 billion people and reduce donor dependence.
Africa CDC plans two main levels of AI use. Internally, AI and automation will improve planning, reporting, finance, procurement and monitoring and build a central disease-intelligence repository. Externally, AI will support member states at community and primary-care sites where most outbreaks begin. Digital tools can detect signals earlier, send data faster and trigger quicker responses. Rwanda’s National Health Intelligence Centre is an example, with AI helping to track outbreaks and maternal emergencies and to support telemedicine and real-time decisions.
Data ownership and protection are central concerns. The African Union has a continental data-policy framework and Africa CDC is developing a Continental Health Data Governance Framework that defines ethical collection, storage and use and aims to keep African data in Africa. To avoid algorithm bias, Africa CDC is working with member states, experts and the private sector to build guidelines, strengthen data infrastructure and collect representative data. Tsague also warned that facilities need electricity, water, staff and functioning primary care, and that domestic financing is vital. The Green Book lists three pillars: increase domestic investment, promote innovative financing and ensure good governance. The interview was edited for length and clarity and produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.
Difficult words
- integration — the process of combining things together.
- dependence — reliance on something or someone.
- ethical — relating to moral principles.
- sovereignty — supreme power or authority.
- outcomes — results or effects of actions.
- infrastructure — basic physical structures for operations.
- self-reliance — ability to depend on oneself.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How can AI improve healthcare in Africa?
- What are some ethical data practices that should be followed?
- In what ways can Africa become more self-reliant in health care?
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