NAIROBI, Kenya- In a groundbreaking move to tackle malaria in Zambia, the University of Zambia (UNZA) and South Korea’s Convergence Research Centre for Insect Vectors (CRCIV) have teamed up to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) in preventing malaria outbreaks.
The collaboration, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), is set to establish a Research Center of Excellence focused on AI-driven solutions to combat malaria, one of Zambia’s deadliest diseases.
At the heart of this partnership is the use of AI technology to enhance malaria prevention efforts in Zambia.
The new center will deploy AI-powered systems to identify and classify mosquito species, the primary carriers of malaria.
By improving the precision of mosquito identification, the initiative aims to optimize malaria control strategies, leading to more targeted and effective interventions.
During the MoU signing, SMART Zambia National Coordinator Percy Chinyama highlighted the importance of the initiative, stressing how collaboration can drive innovation.
“We hope this initiative will lead to greater engagement and even reshape the university curriculum to be more AI-centered. This is the direction the world is heading, and Zambia must champion this technology,” Chinyama said.
UNZA’s Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Bornface Namangala, praised the initiative as a transformative step in addressing one of Zambia’s leading causes of death. “Malaria continues to claim many lives, particularly among pregnant women and children,” Namangala noted.
The partnership with CRCIV offers a new frontier in malaria prevention by harnessing technology to solve this persistent public health issue.
Similarly, CRCIV CEO Professor Hyung Wook Kwon expressed excitement about bringing his expertise in mosquito control to Zambia, hoping to tackle both malaria and dengue fever.
This initiative aligns with Zambia’s National Malaria Monitoring and Evaluation Plan 2022-2026, which emphasizes innovative approaches to reduce malaria cases and deaths.
Beyond public health, the collaboration is expected to have broader implications for Zambia’s educational landscape.
This partnership between Zambia and South Korea is a visionary approach to tackling malaria through cutting-edge AI technology.
