By Duncan Mboya

A report by scientists on Wednesday called for the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data science in advancing global health in Africa.
The report, ‘Governance of Artificial Intelligence for Global Health in Africa’ says that Africa stands at the forefront of a revolutionary shift in global health once countries start embracing AI and data science.
The report that was released by the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA Foundation), African institutions and research councils shows the potential to improve AI governance in Africa in reducing the risk of diseases outbreak and spread.
“Our report on AI in global health and data sciences champions a shift towards frameworks that reflect Africa's context, ensuring ethical, equitable, and impactful applications of AI for Africa’s health challenges and advancing global health," Dr. Tom Kariuki, chief executive officer of the SFA Foundation said during the launch in Kenya’s capital of Nairobi.
Dr. Kariuki said that the current global AI governance framework remains ill-suited to Africa's unique needs and priorities.
He added that there is a need for adoption of pathways for leveraging AI to bridge gaps and overcome current capacity constraints in the health sector.
Dr. Joanes Atela, executive director, Africa Research, and Impact Network (ARIN) noted that the transformative potential of AI in global health requires not just innovation, but collaboration in co-creating, inclusive and transdisciplinary solutions.
Dr. Atela said that the collective approach ensures that AI governance in Africa is grounded in local realities, while also paving the way for sustainable and equitable health systems.
He observed that there is a need for advancement of inclusive policy frameworks and practices that integrate science, innovation, and local knowledge to help bridge the gap between global trends and local solutions.
Dr. Atela called for the empowerment of Africa’s health resilience and climate adaptation efforts for a more sustainable future.
The report notes that while health is prioritised in AI discussions, specific frameworks for responsible deployment in health are still underdeveloped.
It calls for the development of health-specific AI governance to bridge critical gaps in governance frameworks tailored to health AI across Africa.
The report urges African countries to develop inclusive AI policy since the existing policies lack gender and equity considerations.
The report calls for the integration of diverse perspectives spanning gender, urban-rural dynamics, and indigenous knowledge into AI health governance frameworks while leveraging regional collaboration and supporting the informal sector.
The report reveals that Mauritius, Nigeria, Malawi, Ethiopia, Ghana, Rwanda, Senegal, and Tunisia have launched national AI programs, while at least 39 African countries are actively pursuing AI research and development.
It says that 35 African countries have national science, technology and innovation and information, communication and technology as well as health research and innovation policy frameworks that contain policies applicable to the development and deployment of AI and data science.
It says that Rwanda’s seed investment fund and Nigeria’s national centre for AI and robotics illustrate promising investments in AI startups.
The report was developed after incorporating views from 300 stakeholders in 43 African countries.
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