African countries are increasingly adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance healthcare delivery, improve diagnostics, and address gaps in healthcare services. At the Africa Health Agenda International Conference (AHAIC 2025) in Kigali, Rwanda, Rwanda’s Minister of Health spoke. Dr Sabin Nsanzimana emphasised the importance of AI and digital health solutions. These solutions are critical for building resilient, high-quality, and accessible healthcare systems across the continent. Dr Nsanzimana highlighted that AI can address healthcare workforce shortages. It can also reduce costs. This is particularly vital as donor funding declines. This decline poses a significant challenge for many African health systems.
A prominent example of AI-driven healthcare innovation is BabyChecker. It is a portable ultrasound device developed by Delft Imaging. It is designed to improve maternal healthcare in low-resource settings. BabyChecker represents a significant milestone in maternal healthcare, providing a cost-effective and efficient solution for early pregnancy risk detection.
This portable device is designed specifically for low- and middle-income countries. It comprises a smartphone, an ultrasound probe, a mobile application, and a user instructions card. Unlike conventional ultrasound machines, which require trained professionals, BabyChecker leverages AI to analyse ultrasound images.
BabyChecker is powered by AI technology. It allows community health workers (CHWs) with minimal training to conduct ultrasound scans. They can detect high-risk pregnancies, such as foetal malposition, placenta previa, and multiple pregnancies. The device uses a traffic light system to categorise pregnancies:
- Green indicates normal pregnancy progression.
- Yellow signals potential but manageable complications.
- Red denotes high-risk cases requiring immediate referral.
The technology aims to reduce maternal mortality rates by providing accessible antenatal imaging to women in remote and hard-to-reach areas. BabyChecker does not rely on electricity or internet. It is ideal for rural settings. The device allows rapid five-second analysis of scans. This ensures timely decision-making for critical maternal care.
To address the growing healthcare workforce shortage in Africa, organisations like Amref Health Africa are taking action. They are investing in digital learning platforms such as Jibu. It offers online and hybrid training. It aims to upskill healthcare workers across 37 countries. Over 98,000 users are already benefiting. These users take courses in maternal health, non-communicable diseases, and health systems governance. The platform provides offline and mobile access, allowing healthcare workers to upgrade their skills without leaving their posts.
As the World Health Organization (WHO) projects a 6.1 million health worker shortage in Africa by 2030, AI-powered solutions like BabyChecker and Jibu are crucial. These solutions address maternal health challenges. They improve diagnostic accuracy and expand the capacity of healthcare workers. Governments and funders are urged to increase investment in AI solutions. This will enhance healthcare service delivery. This is particularly important in hard-to-reach areas, where maternal and child mortality rates remain disproportionately high.