Malawi, Kenya use AI to close COVID-19 data gaps
AI and data science being used in Malawi and Kenya to tackle COVID-19 data gaps.
Blantyre, Malawi - In the quest for more reliable solutions to pandemic preparedness and the need to address existing information gaps caused by outbreaks like COVID-19, Malawi and Kenya are among the countries and partners embracing the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science to tackle issues related to COVID-19 data in Africa, writes Sumeya Issa.
Under the Inspire PEACH (A Platform for Evaluation and Analysis of COVID-19 Harmonised Data) platform, Malawi, represented by the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS), and Kenya have joined forces as partners.
This collaboration aims to develop a scalable and coordinated COVID-19 data ecosystem that can be expanded to the regional level in both countries.
Recognising the vulnerabilities faced by African nations like Malawi and Kenya in the face of severe pandemics such as COVID-19, the Inspire PEACH project offers solutions to create a reliable and technologically advanced data system.
This system addresses challenges such as limited policy space for governments to take action, the identification of the extent and severity of virus impacts, and the need for coordinated and rapid responses.
During the opening of a two-day workshop in Blantyre, Professor Jim Todd, a Professor of Applied Biostatistics at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and co-founder of the INSPIRE network, emphasised the significance of a data platform for COVID-19 data in Africa.
He highlighted the importance of implementing technologically advanced tools to identify gaps arising from pandemics like COVID-19 and prepare for future outbreaks.
Dr. Thokozani Liwewe, representing Malawi, provided valuable insights into the significant information gaps and challenges associated with data interpretation that were identified during their research project under the Inspire PEACH initiative.
The two-day workshop, with its theme "Building a Data Platform for COVID-19 Data in Africa using AI and Data Science," featured multiple representatives and speakers. Dr. Elvis Sitithana Mpakati Gama from the Malawian Ministry of Health (MoH) was among the speakers who addressed the audience.
One of the notable presentations during the workshop was given by Linda Maoyi, a representative of the South African Population Research Infrastructure Network (SAPRIN), who delivered a high-level presentation on AI in healthcare.