AI: Preparedness and significance to public health and education in SADC

Originally posted on Asonele’s LinkedIn page

I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the 5th edition of the Southern African Regional Students and Youth Conference (SARSYC), held from July 17th to 19th, 2024 in Botswana.

This year's theme, "Building Bridges, Navigating Emerging Issues: Advancing Equitable Access to Public Health and Education," resonated deeply with the challenges and opportunities facing our region today.

During the conference, I was privileged to contribute to a panel discussion on 'AI: Preparedness and Significance to Public Health and education in SADC,' alongside esteemed colleagues Valarie Waswa (Tech Lawyer and Digital Development specialist) and Sam Masikini (Founder of Inspire Learn). We engaged in insightful discussions on leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance healthcare and education accessibility across Southern Africa.

Our session emphasized the critical need for localized AI solutions tailored to the unique contexts of SADC countries (Southern African Development Community) and also addressed that as a region we are still far from being fully able to leverage on AI for health due to various regional challenges. We highlighted several key recommendations aimed at policymakers and stakeholders to foster the development and ethical deployment of AI technologies in our region.

These recommendations include:

1. Finance Locally-Engineered AI Solutions: Supporting the development and deployment of AI solutions in the education and healthcare sectors through financial investments.

2. Develop and Reform Data Protection and Cybersecurity Laws: Strengthening legislation to protect personal data and enhance cybersecurity measures in AI applications.

3. Incentivize Local AI Research: Establishing partnerships and scholarships to encourage research and innovation in AI technologies within the region.

4. Implement Regional AI Ethics Policies: Developing and enforcing ethical guidelines to safeguard against the misuse of AI technologies.

5. Promote Open-Source AI Solutions: Encouraging the development and use of open-source AI solutions to ensure accessibility and collaboration.

6. Encourage STEM Education with a Focus on AI: Creating policies that promote STEM education and provide scholarships to nurture a skilled AI workforce.

7. Establish a Multidisciplinary Regional Task Force: Forming a task force of diverse stakeholders (startups, private and public sector) to drive policy implementation and accountability.

These recommendations underscored our collective commitment to harnessing technology for sustainable development, ensuring that technological advancements contribute to equitable access and opportunity for all in Southern Africa.

I am grateful to SAYWHAT, UNFPA East and Southern Africa, the University of Botswana and all other stakeholders for organizing such an impactful conference. I look forward to continuing this important work and contributing to positive change through technology.

#SARSYC2024 #AIforPublicHealth #AIinEducation #SouthernAfrica #YouthLeadership


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