Humanitarian Comms

WHO uses AI to provide health risk information for DRC

WHO uses AI to provide health risk information for DRC

The World Health Organisation Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) has deployed what it calls its Preparedness Data Exchange (PDX) platform in the Democratic Republic of Congo, strengthening the country’s access to epidemic intelligence and early-warning information.

WHO AFRO is part of WHO, the United Nations agency that connects nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable.

PDX uses artificial intelligence to bring together health and risk information, helping countries spot potential threats early and prepare for and respond to them. The Democratic Republic of Congo is the first country in which it has been deployed.

The platform connects the country to a regional platform serving all 47 member states in the WHO African Region. By linking country-level information with regional preparedness systems, the platform supports a more connected approach to monitoring risks and informing preparedness actions.

This deployment is described as particularly relevant for the Democratic Republic of the Congo as it is currently responding to Ebola and other factors, including its complex epidemiological context, population movement and cross-border health risks. As WHO notes, access to timely intelligence can help strengthen situational awareness and support health authorities in identifying and responding to emerging threats.

Alongside the PDX deployment, Dure Technologies, a company that aims to merge healthcare and technology, in collaboration with WHO, has installed Voyage Santé, a digital points-of-entry system, at key locations, including N’djili International Airport and the Nord Bangui border post.

The system strengthens screening, early detection and public health measures at points of entry, enabling authorities to identify potential health threats promptly and take appropriate action.

WHO AFRO says the combined use of points-of-entry systems and preparedness intelligence provides an opportunity to strengthen the connection between early warning, surveillance and response, supporting a more integrated approach to health security.

Further deployments of PDX are planned for other countries in the region to support early detection and inform public health preparedness.



More Articles you may be Interested in...