Shaping the Future Together: A Collaborative Network in the Global South Leveraging Artificial Intelligence in Health for Sustainable Development
In every corner of the planet, disease outbreaks are increasing in both severity and frequency. Across the Global South, in particular, climate change is exacerbating existing health and social inequities by increasing the vulnerability of climate “hotspots” to the emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and Zika. Additionally, a growing number of these diseases are spreading from animals to humans due to factors such as increasing human encroachment into natural landscapes. Data science and AI solutions are increasingly being used to identify risks, conduct predictive modeling, and provide evidence-based recommendations for public health policy and action. To harness the power of AI in health, AI4PEP—a transdisciplinary, collaborative, multi-regional network—was established, focusing on bringing together the voices of different LMICs stakeholders from the outset. It aims to strengthen equitable and responsive public health systems by leveraging Southern-led, responsible AI solutions to improve prevention, preparedness, and response to emerging and re-emerging climate-sensitive infectious disease outbreaks. AI4PEP and its partners from Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC); The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO); Artificial Intelligence and Mathematical Modelling Lab (AIMM Lab), Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto; Africa-Canada Artificial Intelligence and Data Innovation Consortium (ACADIC); University of Buea, Cameroon; University of Ngaoundere, Cameroon; Jimma University, Ethiopia; Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana; Cheikh Anta Diop University, Senegal; University of Witwatersrand, South Africa; Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia; Sunway University, Malaysia; University of San Agustin, Philippines; Universidade de São Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil; Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Peru; Beirut Arab University, Lebanon; University Mohammed V in Rabat, Morocco; Pasteur Institute in Tunis, Tunisia; Al-Quds University, West Bank; Jacaranda, Kenya; Asia eHealth Information Network, Philippines; Data Science Nigeria; Digital Health Africa and Climate Change AI are thus conducting a session to explore a future with AI that is just, equitable, and safe for all. It will showcase the network effects on advancing SDG 3 and discuss the future of AI in the Global South, including forward-looking strategies and innovative approaches. The session is divided into two panels. The first panel, “AI Network Effects: Bridging Silos and Fostering Collaboration to Strengthen Health Systems and Advance SDG 3,” will discuss how AI is creating network effects that enhance access to healthcare, improve health outcomes, and strengthen health systems in the Global South. AI is transcending traditional silos in healthcare, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, integrated solutions, and promoting dialogue on the importance of cross-sector partnerships and collaborative efforts in advancing health outcomes in the Global South. The second panel, “A Future with AI for Health: Just, Equitable, and Safe Directions for the Global South,” will explore the future of AI in the Global South, including forward-looking strategies and innovative approaches. This event will contribute to deepening the understanding of how to use responsible AI solutions to advance SDG 3.