Shrinking the distance to great healthcare
Technology is revolutionising healthcare access in South Africa, enabling remote monitoring and AI-driven solutions to bridge the healthcare gap.
The North-West University (NWU) is leveraging technology to enhance healthcare access in South Africa, where rural locations, limited expertise, and inconsistent medication availability often hinder patient care. Through its Digital Health and HealthTech Innovation programme, researchers are creating practical solutions to address these challenges.
Prof. Leenta Grobler, a computer and electronic engineer, leads the program, which combines engineering principles with innovation and business strategies to improve healthcare outcomes. She emphasizes that digital health should prioritize accessibility, effectiveness, efficiency, and person-centered care rather than merely focusing on technological advancements.
The programme has developed several impactful technologies:
1. An AI-enabled system for analyzing retinal images, which helps identify early signs of various diseases, particularly in areas with limited specialist expertise.
2. EmpathIQ, an AI-enhanced digital companion for adolescents, students, and young adults, providing reflective journaling, wellbeing tracking, resilience-building activities, and conversational AI support.
3. Ikusasa, a game-based learning tool that enhances leadership and managerial skills in health sciences, recognizing that effective healthcare requires more than clinical knowledge.
4. Monitor-T, a smartphone-based digital health system that captures essential anthropometric measurements to monitor infant growth and identify those at risk of severe acute malnutrition in resource-limited settings.
5. A remote ventilator-monitoring system developed in response to COVID-19, enabling healthcare professionals to monitor multiple patients more efficiently using a digital dashboard.
Prof. Grobler stresses that digital health innovations should be designed to address specific healthcare problems rather than solely focusing on technology. By using technology intelligently, healthcare can become more accessible, effective, efficient, and centered around the patient's needs.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
