[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$ftluQ2lMckIS2ixBfFhRsyuHVSBiPy9LkPwZX2qMHs04":3,"_apollo:default":12},{"id":4,"title":5,"featuredImage":6,"date":9,"content":10,"excerpt":11},"cG9zdDoxMTM1","A Blueprint for AI-Powered Healthcare in Kenya:  AI and Health Roundtable Discussion",{"node":7},{"sourceUrl":8},"https:\u002F\u002Fblog.qhala.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F10\u002FDSC01440-1024x756.jpg","2024-12-19T15:33:06","\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consider Mary, a 30-year-old expectant mother living in rural Kenya. Her health and that of her child’s depend on regular prenatal checkups, but there’s a catch—the closest health center is more than 50 kilometers away, and getting there involves a bumpy journey on an unreliable bus. And even if she makes it, there’s no guarantee that she’ll see the doctor. Sometimes, after hours of waiting, she leaves without being attended to because the doctor is overwhelmed with too many patients.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is Mary’s reality, but it’s not just hers—it’s the reality of millions of African women . In fact, Kenya faces a staggering \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.statista.com\u002Fstatistics\u002F1240311\u002Fratio-of-medical-doctors-to-100-000-population-in-kenya\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">doctor-to-patient ratio of 1:100,000\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, leaving the vast majority without timely access to critical medical care. In some areas, the shortage is even more acute, with facilities lacking not just doctors but also\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fafricauncensored.online\u002Fkenyans-are-dying-due-to-lack-of-healthcare-even-as-plans-to-export-health-workers-are-underway\u002F#:~:text=The%202023%20Health%20Facilities%20Census,necessary%20equipment%20for%20basic%20services.\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> essential equipment\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.health.go.ke\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2024-01\u002FKenya%20Health%20Facility%20Census%20Report%20September%202023.pdf\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2023 Health Facilities Census\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by the Ministry of Health indicates that \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fwatch?v=EtrI88bXj_8\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">93% of Kenya’s\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> health facilities cannot provide basic outpatient services. The census, which covered over 12,000 health facilities, revealed that a majority lack the necessary equipment for basic services. For maternity services, \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fwatch?v=EtrI88bXj_8\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">84% of around 5,000\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> facilities lack essential equipment. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It’s not just inconvenient; it’s a matter of life and death.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now, imagine if Mary had access to an AI-powered health app on her phone, one that gave her personalized advice about her pregnancy, sent reminders for antenatal care, and even helped her identify warning signs of complications. This is not some distant science fiction—tools like Qhala’s Atunzi, an AI-driven health chatbot, are making these health solutions available. For Mary and her unborn child, the availability of \u003C\u002Fspan>AI healthcare solutions could quite literally determine life or death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mary’s story is among countless others that reflect the critical role of AI applications in healthcare. It’s why Qhala, in collaboration with the Ministry of Information, Communication, and the Digital Economy – and the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data – brought together healthcare professionals, AI experts, policymakers, civil society representatives, and technologists to discuss the intersection of AI and health— and what the Kenyan government should consider while crafting the National AI Strategy. Kenya’s distinctive approach to developing a National AI Strategy is indeed commendable; it begins with creating a strategic framework rather than jumping straight into policy or regulation. The AI strategy can be likened to an architectural blueprint. Just as a generic house plan may not suit your specific needs, uniform policies may fall short when it comes to regulating AI for health. This alternative approach ensures that AI systems are contextually relevant and effective for Kenya.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the roundtable discussions, several priorities for \u003C\u002Fspan>AI adoption in healthcare\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> emerged, ranging from governance improvements to workforce augmentation. The workforce issue, in particular, is pressing. Consider the fact that Kenya has only \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fhumanpathology.uonbi.ac.ke\u002Fprograms-content-type\u002Fmaster-medicine-human-pathology-mmed-path\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2 pathologists per million population;\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa> \u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> serving over 50 million people. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is where AI can make a real impact—automating diagnostic tasks, such as analyzing medical images, to help alleviate the burden on overworked specialists. \u003C\u002Fspan>AI healthcare technology\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> could serve as an invaluable assistant, freeing up medical professionals to focus on complex cases and ultimately improving the quality of care for patients like Mary.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The dire need for greater data representation from Africa also took center stage. Big data in healthcare is essential for AI to work effectively in diagnostics or treatment, as it must understand the unique genetic, environmental, and social factors of the populations it serves. Western-trained AI models often overlook these aspects, resulting in biases that can be detrimental when applied to African contexts. For instance, local medicinal knowledge and alternative health practices that have been used for generations are frequently absent from global datasets. This creates a situation where AI systems may offer solutions that are ineffective or inappropriate for African patients. By ensuring that African health data is included in the design of AI systems, we can build \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cb>digital tools\u003C\u002Fb>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that are accurate and applicable to local needs.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Data sovereignty, therefore, becomes crucial. It’s not enough to collect health data; it must be owned, managed, and used by Africans to benefit their communities. Health data should inform the AI development that works for Africa, and not be repurposed by foreign entities without regard for local contexts. Eurocentrism in AI is alive and well, much to the disadvantage of the Global South. We refer to it as the ‘\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwallonia.be\u002Fen\u002Fnews\u002Fhow-brussels-effect-influencing-digital-world\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brussels Effect\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">‘—Europe’s soft power in shaping the global digital economy. But should it continue unchecked? Absolutely not!\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This issue of representation isn’t just technical—it’s deeply tied to autonomy and the future of Africa’s healthcare. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The roundtable also highlighted the importance of \u003C\u002Fspan>digital infrastructure\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and equitable access. There were \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fdatareportal.com\u002Freports\u002Fdigital-2024-kenya\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">22.71 million internet users in Kenya\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at the start of 2024, with internet penetration standing at 40.8%. The\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fnetworkreadinessindex.org\u002Fcountry\u002Fkenya\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Network Readiness Index ranks Kenya at 76 out of 134 economies\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, assessing factors related to technology access, including mobile tariffs, handset prices, Fiber to the Home\u002Fbuilding internet subscriptions, the percentage of the population covered by at least a 3G mobile network, international internet bandwidth, and internet access in schools. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.statista.com\u002Fstatistics\u002F1221124\u002Fpopulation-with-access-to-electricity-in-kenya\u002F#:~:text=In%202022%2C%20the%20share%20of,no%20significant%20change%20to%202021.\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Electricity penetration\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in Kenya stands at 76%, meaning that 24% of the country’s population is yet to enjoy the fruits of the Second Industrial Revolution. The country’s adoption of the Internet of Things has\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedium.com\u002F@awiellie07\u002Fthe-state-of-iot-in-kenya-823299c9ff5b\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> not been without challenges\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> either. Without proper digital infrastructure, even the best AI technologies will fail to reach those who need them most. Mary’s remote village is a prime example; if digital services don’t extend to her, then AI can’t either. Strengthening digital infrastructure, particularly in underfunded regions, was a recurring theme, emphasizing that no one should be left behind in this technological leap. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fgaryvaynerchuk.com\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gary Vaynerchuk\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> rightly observed that ‘without a dollar, you can’t make a great product.’ AI adoption requires sustainable models that move beyond donor dependency.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By fostering local AI markets, Kenya can stimulate innovation and growth within its borders. Building long-term healthcare financing models that support AI tools is crucial for \u003C\u002Fspan>AI sustainability and ensuring access for people like Mary. The right AI financial model will be instrumental in making these tools both effective and accessible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So why do doctors need to be part of Kenya’s AI strategy? Because they understand the gaps, the challenges, and the potential of AI in a way that no one else can. Doctors are the ones on the ground, managing overcrowded wards like\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fnairobi.go.ke\u002Fpumwani-maternity-hospital\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Pumwani Maternity Hospital\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, where they see firsthand how AI healthcare technology could help manage high patient volumes or automate routine administrative tasks. They know what’s lacking—whether it’s a pathologist to examine a biopsy or an ultrasound machine to check on a baby’s growth. Their insights are essential for developing AI tools\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that are practical, ethical, and designed for the reality of healthcare in Kenya.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AI holds immense promise for transforming healthcare in Kenya, but it needs the collaboration of all stakeholders to succeed. It must be practical, adaptable, and inclusive. It must prioritize local needs, strengthen infrastructure, and uphold data sovereignty. Above all, it must put people—patients and healthcare workers—at the heart of its advancement. As Dr. Shikoh Gitau, CEO of Qhala, aptly put it at the roundtable, “AI – and indeed all tech – should be an enabler to Kenya’s development.”\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the groundwork laid and the conversations ongoing, Kenya’s journey towards AI-powered healthcare is just beginning. And for Mary, and millions like her, it could mean a future where healthcare is not a distant hope, but an everyday reality.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n","\u003Cp>Consider Mary, a 30-year-old expectant mother living in rural Kenya. Her health and that of her child’s depend on regular […]\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"Bizzbar:cG9zdDoxNDcw":13,"ROOT_QUERY":24},["null","__typename",14,"id",15,"status",16,"bizzbars",17],"Bizzbar","cG9zdDoxNDcw","publish",["null","__typename",18,"ctaButtonText",19,"description",20,"enabled",21,"link",22,"external",23],"Bizzbar_Bizzbars","Get it here","Gates Report: Bridging Africa’s Smartphone Divide Insights from 10 Countries",true,"\u002Freports\u002Fgates-report-bridging-africas-smartphone-divide-insights-from-10-countries",null,["null","__typename",25,"bizzbars({\"where\":{\"status\":\"PUBLISH\"}})",26,"focusAreas",31],"Query",["null","__typename",27,"nodes",28],"RootQueryToBizzbarConnection",[29],{"__ref":30},"Bizzbar:cG9zdDoxNDcw",["null","__typename",32,"nodes",33],"RootQueryToFocusAreaConnection",[34,45,52],["null","__typename",35,"title",36,"slug",37,"focusAreas",38],"FocusArea","Health Care and Life Sciences","health-care-and-life-sciences",["null","__typename",39,"banner",40],"FocusArea_Focusareas",["null","__typename",41,"bannerCenter",42],"FocusArea_Focusareas_Banner",["null","__typename",43,"sourceUrl",44],"MediaItem","https:\u002F\u002Fblog.qhala.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F12\u002Fhealth-life-sciences-focus-area-center@3x.jpg",["null","__typename",35,"title",46,"slug",47,"focusAreas",48],"Financial Services","financial-services",["null","__typename",39,"banner",49],["null","__typename",41,"bannerCenter",50],["null","__typename",43,"sourceUrl",51],"https:\u002F\u002Fblog.qhala.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F12\u002Ffinancial-services-focus-area-center@3x.jpg",["null","__typename",35,"title",53,"slug",54,"focusAreas",55],"Digital Economy","digital-economy",["null","__typename",39,"banner",56],["null","__typename",41,"bannerCenter",57],["null","__typename",43,"sourceUrl",58],"https:\u002F\u002Fblog.qhala.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F12\u002Fdigital-economy-focus-area-center@3x.jpg"]