Uganda has introduced Artificial intelligence (AI) powered tuberculosis (TB) screening technology to improve efficiency and service delivery across its community-centered health centres, APA can report on Sunday.
This was announced during a launching of Re-Imagining TB Care (RTC) project which introduced an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot designed to support Ugandan Community Health Workers in their daily tasks
Dr Achilles Katamba, a senior lecturer in the Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences at Makerere University, said during a dissemination meeting on (RTC) said the project is implemented by the World Alliance for Lung and Intensive Care Medicine in Uganda (WALIMU) and the Uganda National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTLP).
“It aims to transform when, where and how TB services are accessed and delivered in Uganda. It focuses on bringing integrated TB care services such as screening, treatment and prevention as close as possible to communities,” Katamba said.
He added that to ensure accessibility, the tool was translated into four local languages, Lumasaba, Lusoga, Luganda and Runyankore, reflecting the regions where the project was implemented.
According to Katamba, the innovation has boosted the confidence and credibility of Villages Health Teams (VHTs) within their communities. “They are now more knowledgeable and respected because they can provide accurate information instantly,” he said.
However, Katamba emphasized the need for stronger infrastructure to fully harness digital health solutions. “As much as Al is a promising innovation, we must invest in power, internet connectivity, and supportive systems to enable its widespread use across different diseases and applications,” he said.
Uganda records an estimated 90,000 TB cases annually, with about 90% detected. However, about 8,000 cases remain undiagnosed each year. Among those diagnosed, about 92 percent successfully complete treatment.
The RTC project was conceptualized to shift from a top-down approach to a more community-centred model of healthcare delivery. Supported by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Stop TB Partnership, with funding from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the project engaged communities to identify gaps in TB care.
MG/as/APA