Kabarak University Joins AI Project to Boost Public Health.
Kabarak University has joined forces with local and international universities in a groundbreaking initiative aimed at training young girls and women in using artificial intelligence (AI) to collect data on public health. Announced yesterday at the university’s main campus in Nakuru County, this initiative includes collaborations with the University of Nairobi, the University of California, and the San Francisco Institute for Global Health Sciences (IGHS), among other institutions.
The project, named ‘Enabling Girls in AI and Growing Expertise (ENGAGE)’, is funded by Takeda Pharmaceuticals and, furthermore, is set to span five years. Its primary goal is to empower over 800 young girls and women with vital skills, thereby enhancing women’s health in their communities.
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Kabarak University Vice-Chancellor Prof Henry Kiplagat highlighted the project’s objective to establish a machine-learning training program focused on public health. This program aims to reduce gender-based gaps and biases in data science. Prof Kiplagat emphasized that the initiative will not only train adolescent girls and young women in Kenya in data science but also provide career mentorship. This mentorship will enable these young women to write code that influences health policies and decisions about their health.
Prof Kiplagat stated, “This project is critical and will receive our unwavering support. It will empower young women and strengthen their leadership potential, improving health outcomes in their communities. Furthermore, it will inspire similar programs throughout Africa.”
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Under the ENGAGE project, selected students from high schools and science courses in higher education institutions will receive training in data science and AI. Consequently, they will use this knowledge to address public health challenges in their communities. In addition, prof Julius Oyugi, Director of Research at the University of Nairobi’s Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases and the lead researcher of the program, mentioned that the project targets students from less privileged economic backgrounds.
In conclusion, the collaboration between Kabarak University and other esteemed institutions marks a significant step in using AI to address public health issues. Therefore, by empowering young girls and women with data science skills, the ENGAGE project aims to create lasting positive impacts on public health across Kenya and potentially inspire similar initiatives across the continent.
Kabarak University Joins AI Project to Boost Public Health.
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