AMREF Health Africa in Kenya said Thursday that electronic Community Health Information Systems (eCHIS) have transformed community health across Sub-Saharan Africa over the past decade, with Kenya and Zanzibar leading in real-time reporting.
Experts say AI will further enable predictive analytics, smarter supervision, automated data cleaning, and faster, lifesaving decisions, supported by strong leadership, integrated systems, and frontline innovation.
According to Amref, Kenya and Zanzibar “are setting the standard, using digital platforms for real-time reporting, effective supervision, and smart decision-making.”
Yet the transformation has not been without obstacles. The organisation acknowledged that “challenges persist, data quality, system integration, and translating insights into action.”
AI is now positioned as the turning point. The plenary emphasised that “AI is set to drive eCHIS into a new era, unlocking predictive analytics, intelligent supervision, and automated data cleaning. With AI, eCHIS will empower health workers and policymakers to make faster, data-driven decisions that save lives.”
John Wanyungu of the Ministry of Health’s Division of Community Health Services delivered one of the session’s strongest declarations, saying, “We are giving community health workers superpowers; this is what AI truly brings to frontline care.”
He highlighted Kenya’s shift from multiple fragmented tools to a unified national system, stating that “Kenya’s bold move from 80 fragmented apps to a single national digital system has empowered 100,000 Community Health Promoters and launched a new era of smart, connected healthcare.”
AI, he added, is not a buzzword but a lifeline. “AI isn’t just a trend, it’s a tool solving real problems for real people. Our frontline workers are ready, 97 percent say AI makes their work faster, better, and smarter.”
Wanyungu said the impact is profound, “Digital health is powerful, but AI makes it unstoppable. It frees us from paperwork, accelerates decisions, and saves lives.”
He credited Kenya’s progress to strong leadership, political will, government ownership, meaningful partnerships, and user-centred design, these are the real engines behind Kenya’s digital health revolution.”
From the frontline, Anita Kaleli, Community Health Assistant in the County Government of Machakos, reinforced the message, saying, “We’re never going back to paperwork, AI has transformed everything.” She explained how AI has changed her daily operations.
“Now, I fetch data instantly, spot outbreaks early, and take real-time action. Supervision is a game-changer. I can effectively oversee 60 Community Health Promoters, track who’s active, who needs support, and where the next risk is,” she said.
Kaleli called AI a tool of precision and speed, adding, “AI gives us the visibility and speed to make smarter, lifesaving decisions for our communities.”
John Mahundi of the Zanzibar Presidential Delivery Bureau reaffirmed that “Government ownership drives true digital health success. Pilots alone aren’t enough, real transformation demands scaling.”
He added that for AI to work, countries must build strong digital foundations, robust identity systems, interoperability, and seamless data flows.
Amref Kenya Country Director Ndirangu Wanjuki concluded, noting that Africa bears 24 percent of the world’s disease burden but receives just 1 percent of global health funding. He notes that AI is the opportunity to close this gap.
“No more endless pilots, if AI works locally, scale it nationwide. The future of African health demands that we build, fund, and lead with purpose, on our terms,” he concluded.
