African Health Leaders Urge Nations to Leverage AI for Epidemic Early Warning

New York, September 26, 2026 :  African leaders, health ministers, regional institutions, and international partners have called for stronger cross-border collaboration and the responsible use of artificial intelligence to bolster preparedness for infectious diseases that could trigger public health emergencies across Africa.

The call came during the Presidential Dialogue on High-Threat Pathogens: From Cross-Border Collaboration to AI-Assisted Preparedness Intelligence in Africa, held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The dialogue pointed to a growing recognition of the need for stronger cross-border preparedness, with participants adopting the "New York Call to Action on Cross-Border Preparedness Intelligence in Africa."

Participants also highlighted the World Health Organization's (WHO) Regional Office for Africa's Preparedness Data Exchange (PDX), launched in March 2026. The platform integrates preparedness and risk information to support early, evidence-based decision-making across the region, while incorporating AI-enabled capabilities that help health officials identify emerging risks, analyze information, and strengthen overall preparedness.

WHO said the model allows countries to retain control over their own data while still enabling them to generate and share the information needed to strengthen collective preparedness and response to health threats.

WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr. Mohamed Janabi said the organization would support Member States in translating the "New York Call to Action" into national policies, sustained financing, and practical arrangements for cross-border cooperation. He called for the development of continuous, connected, and ready preparedness systems ahead of future emergencies.

WHO said the initiative aims to strengthen the flow of information to help countries anticipate, prepare for, and respond to health threats, while harnessing AI to support early warning, analysis, and decision-making — not as a replacement for national systems or health expertise, but as a complement to them.

Source : QNA