By Morgen Makombo Sikwila
Public health is an ever-changing field, and needs constantly adapting to new challenges and harnessing innovative technologies to safeguard the wellbeing of the local public. Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to bring benefits to the country. This may include improved efficiency, cost savings, enhanced decision-making, and services delivery.
Challenges such as rising chronic diseases, mental health issues, infectious disease outbreaks, and health inequalities demand innovative solutions. This is in turn where AI steps in, offering a powerful toolkit to address these mammoth problems.
AI significantly enhances disease surveillance and predictive analytics, allowing for timely interventions and better resource allocation. In disease outbreaks, AI models analyse data from various sources, including social media, health records, and environmental factors, to predict disease outbreaks. This enables healthcare providers to prepare and respond more proactively.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, AI was instrumental in tracking the spread of the virus, predicting hotspots, and analysing patient data to optimise interventions. Clinicians used AI to predict patient outcomes and manage hospital resources efficiently.
Personalised health interventions are crucial for addressing individual health needs and improving outcomes. AI plays a significant role in tailoring these interventions. In mental health support, AI-powered chatbots and virtual therapists provide mental health support, offering personalised advice and coping strategies in the developed world. These tools are particularly valuable in reaching individuals who might not seek traditional therapy.
There is a significant role for AI in health education, particularly its use in interactive, empathetic chatbots. AI-based chatbots have an advantage over simple E-health educational resources by being more interactive and conversational with natural language flow.
Early detection of diseases can significantly improve treatment outcomes. AI excel is used in analysing large datasets to identify early signs of health issues. In cancer detection, AI algorithms analyse medical images, such as mammograms and CT scans, to detect cancer at an early stage.
AI-powered wearable devices are becoming more sophisticated, such as smart watches, monitor vital signs and detect anomalies. These devices can alert healthcare providers to potential health issues, enabling early intervention.
AI-enabled sensors in adult social care can monitor health and safety, ensuring timely interventions. Efficient resource allocation is essential for delivering high-quality public health services. AI can help optimise resources and improve operational efficiency.
While AI offers numerous benefits, it also presents challenges and ethical considerations. Public health teams must address these to ensure safe and responsible AI adoption. There are concerns about data privacy and the security of sensitive health information. Ensuring robust data protection measures is crucial to maintaining patient confidentiality and trust.
AI systems must be designed to mitigate bias and ensure fair treatment for all individuals, regardless of socio-economic status, race, or gender. Ethical considerations need to consider how algorithmic decision making and biases could exacerbate existing health inequities. Efforts must be made to include digitally excluded residents and ensure they benefit from AI-driven health interventions.
The integration of AI into public health operations is still in its early stages. However, the potential benefits are immense. To fully harness the power of AI, public health authorities need to foster collaborations, and ensure that ethical considerations are at the forefront of AI deployment. Community engagement and transparency are essential. Educating the public and public health workforce about the benefits and limitations of AI in health care can build trust and fostering acceptance of these technologies.
The synergy between public health and artificial intelligence holds great promise. By embracing AI, local health authorities can enhance ability to protect and improve health of communities, paving the way for a healthier, more resilient future.
Morgen Makombo Sikwila
MSc Peace and Governance
BSc Counselling
Diploma in Environmental Health
Certificate in Marketing Management
email address: morgensikwilam@gmail.com
Phone Number: 0772823282
