The Department of Health in Kiambu County has started embracing the use of Artificial intelligence (AI) in the healthcare services. The Department in partnership with Science for Africa Foundation, last week organized a skills enhancement training focusing on introducing AI-driven clinical decision support systems, tailored to address Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the County. Artificial intelligence (AI) is the imitation of human acumen in machines that are typically programmed to imitate human actions; it is an interdisciplinary science with numerous approaches of machine learning in the technology industry. The utilization of AI in healthcare is meant to help medical practitioners in many facets of patient care, including administrative procedures allowing healthcare providers to dedicate more of their limited resources to patient care matters. According to Kiambu CECM Health Services, Dr.
Elias Maina, the time to embrace AI is nigh as it can help health professionals do more with limited resources. "We plan to subject our health practitioners to more of such training in future.
This training was intended to improve patient outcomes through precise diagnosis, tailored treatments, and informed decision-making through AI-driven clinical decision support systems tailored to address Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the County," said Maina. "There is still a lot that is needed to be done for the technology to be fully embraced not only in Kiambu County but in the country at large," cited the CECM, calling for more organizations piloting AI applications to support AI programs in the country. Science for Africa Foundation is one such organization helping African countries through funding to catalyze the equitable use of AI to improve the health and lives of Africans. "AI has the potential to revolutionize global and digital health in Africa.
By investing in AI-led innovations, SFA Foundation is empowering Africa's researchers and innovators to lead the way in addressing the healthcare challenges that have long affected our communities.