The Mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo from 2022 to 2023 has resulted in a considerable increase in the disease’s prevalence, underscoring the necessity for swift community-level testing and border monitoring to avert cross-border transmission.
Rwanda has created an artificial intelligence (AI) tool designed to assist frontline workers in identifying Mpox at border crossings with Uganda, Burundi, and the DRC through the use of mobile phones. This AI advancement builds upon earlier initiatives aimed at addressing diseases such as tuberculosis through digital innovations supported by the Global Fund.
Nevertheless, experts caution that AI should not be regarded as a panacea and should be implemented gradually, beginning with fundamental applications. For countries with lower income levels, essential foundational support is crucial, which includes concessional financing, public-private investments, and infrastructure such as solar-powered data hubs and improved rural connectivity.
The Global Fund has established four key principles to steer the integration of AI into health systems: evaluate readiness, phase ambitions, mandate public-private co-investment, and guarantee national ownership throughout all phases.
