Africa's healthcare future hinges on a bold move: embracing AI, but on our terms. For years, African nations have relied heavily on external aid for their healthcare systems. But now, a shift is underway, with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) leading the charge towards self-reliance. At the heart of this transformation is a renewed focus on primary health care and the game-changing potential of artificial intelligence (AI). Let's dive in.
Landry Dongmo Tsague, the inaugural director of Africa CDC’s Center for Primary Health Care, recently shared insights on how AI can revolutionize disease surveillance and why high-quality, Africa-specific data is absolutely crucial. This conversation took place on the sidelines of the Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) in Durban, South Africa, where self-reliance was the central theme.
So, how exactly is the Africa CDC integrating AI into its primary health care strategy?
AI offers immense potential to improve not only how the Africa CDC operates but also how we safeguard the health of the continent's 1.4 billion people. The strategy is two-pronged:
- Internal Improvement: Streamlining internal systems for planning, reporting, finance, procurement, and monitoring. This involves automating data management and strengthening the central disease-intelligence repository.
- Member State Support: Providing digital tools and AI to support member states, especially at the community and primary-care levels, where outbreaks often originate. This includes enhancing event-based surveillance for early detection, rapid data transmission, and swift responses.
There are already success stories, such as in Rwanda, where AI tools are assisting in tracking disease outbreaks, managing maternal emergencies, supporting telemedicine, and enabling real-time decision-making through the National Health Intelligence Centre.
But here's where it gets controversial: AI thrives on data. So, who owns this crucial data—the Africa CDC, national governments, or tech partners? The African Union has already established a continental data-policy framework, and the Africa CDC is building on that with the Continental Health Data Governance Framework. This framework outlines how health data should be collected, stored, and used ethically, ensuring African ownership while respecting partnerships with private and technology actors. Ethical use and data protection are paramount.
And this is the part most people miss: Many AI algorithms are trained on data from more affluent regions. To ensure AI models work effectively for African contexts, algorithms must be trained on African data. Our health realities differ significantly, so AI systems need data that reflect our unique populations and environments. It won't happen overnight, but as we feed these systems with more African data, they will adapt and become more accurate for our context.
So, what steps are being taken to generate this high-quality, context-specific African data? The Africa CDC is collaborating with member states, experts, and the private sector to develop guidelines and governance frameworks that respond to Africa’s specific needs. The focus is on strengthening data infrastructure and quality, collecting accurate, timely, and representative data to guide decision-making and make AI more relevant to our continent. The long-term goal? To ensure African data stays in Africa and benefits Africa.
Infrastructure challenges, such as limited electricity, poor connectivity, and weak health facilities, can hinder AI implementation. But the Africa CDC recognizes that AI must be built on a strong foundation of functional primary health care. If a facility lacks basic resources, AI alone cannot solve the problem. Therefore, the Africa CDC links digital transformation to the broader effort of revitalizing primary healthcare systems. Infrastructure, human resources, and technology must develop together. Leapfrogging is possible, but pragmatism is key. Technology can improve healthcare delivery, but it cannot replace basic infrastructure. We must first strengthen facilities so that digital tools can add real value.
Financing is another significant barrier. With declining donor funds, how can African countries sustain their health systems? This is where self-reliance comes into play, as highlighted by this year’s CPHIA theme: achieving universal health coverage and health security. Self-reliance doesn't mean shutting out partners; it means taking primary responsibility for our health systems. Domestic financing is no longer optional; it's urgent. The Africa CDC recently launched the Green Book: Reimagining Health Financing in the New Era, which emphasizes three pillars for sustainable financing:
- Increase domestic investment
- Promote innovative financing
- Ensure good governance
Africa cannot build resilient systems on unpredictable donor funding. We must finance our priorities and strengthen the workforce and infrastructure that deliver care.
So, what role does primary health care play in achieving this self-reliance? Primary health care is the foundation of health security. When it functions effectively, countries can detect and contain outbreaks early, provide essential services, and reduce pressure on hospitals. Investing in primary health care means investing in people—community health workers, nurses—and the digital tools that connect them. That is how we build resilience. Through its new Center for Primary Health Care, Africa CDC is supporting countries to redesign their systems around accessibility, equity, and innovation. Self-reliance begins with strong primary health care. It is the most cost-effective way to achieve universal health coverage and protect Africa’s populations.
What are your thoughts on Africa's journey towards AI-driven healthcare and self-reliance? Share your perspectives in the comments below!
