Kiambu County has authorised its doctors, nurses, and health practitioners to incorporate Artificial intelligence (AI) in treating patients in their hospitals. This announcement was made on Monday following a skills enhancement training session in collaboration with the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA) The training focused on the introduction of AI-driven clinical decision support systems, tailored to address Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the County.
Kiambu County's CECM for Health Services Dr Elias Maina highlighted the dire need to embrace AI as it will help health professionals do more with limited resources.
Thika Level 5 Hospital Reproductive Health Unit in Kiambu County Photo Thika Level 5 Hospital "We plan to subject our health practitioners to more training 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," he saidOnce implemented, the medical practitioners will be able to also utilise AI in administrative procedures allowing them to dedicate more of their limited resources to patient care matters.
Dr Maina further noted that although a lot needed to be done, the successful integration of AI in the County had the potential to be embraced countrywide as well. "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," he stated.
