NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – Global health officials advocated for a nation-centered approach to artificial intelligence in disease eradication during a UN General Assembly forum held in New York. The event assembled health ministers, funders, diagnostics leaders, and public health specialists. The Global Institute for Disease Elimination, the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, and the Government of Nigeria jointly hosted the conference. Attendees concentrated on how AI could enhance disease monitoring, aid health decision-making, and allocate limited resources to critical areas.
Michael Adekunle Charles, CEO of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, spoke on behalf of Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate. His remarks underscored the importance of national authority over decisions related to integrating new technologies into health systems. Nigeria is also rolling out its Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, covering primary healthcare services and domestic health funding. Participants agreed that national priorities, healthcare system capacity, and local circumstances should direct the deployment of AI tools.
The discussion also addressed the infrastructure necessary to broaden AI application in public health. Topics included data management systems, workforce development, health system integration, and financing strategies for sustainable programs. The most recent World Health Organization malaria assessment projected 282 million cases and 610,000 deaths worldwide in 2024. The WHO African Region remains responsible for the majority of this global burden, with Nigeria reporting the highest estimated malaria cases among regional countries.
AI capacity-building initiatives for public health leaders
GLIDE revealed two AI training programs aimed at national program managers and public health officials. Its GLIDE Leadership Excellence in AI for Health initiative targets senior health policymakers and will be conducted in Abu Dhabi from January 17 to 22, 2027. The inaugural residential cohort will include 25 to 30 participants. The program emphasizes AI governance, deployment strategies, organizational readiness, and accountability, rather than instructing participants on building AI models.
Another project, AI for All, was created by Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence and customized in collaboration with GLIDE for public health professionals. This online course features four modules and does not require coding skills or technical expertise. Its curriculum covers AI basics, generative AI tools, issues of bias, privacy concerns, accountability, and human oversight. The aim is to equip health professionals with practical knowledge to evaluate and incorporate AI into their organizations effectively.
GLIDE and RBM formalize partnership to combat malaria
During the New York event, GLIDE and the RBM Partnership to End Malaria also signed a letter of mutual understanding. The agreement links technical expertise, AI innovation, and capacity-building efforts with national malaria control priorities. It prioritizes supporting country-driven malaria elimination strategies. Moreover, the collaboration aligns with the World Health Organization’s Global Technical Strategy for Malaria, which aims to reduce malaria cases and fatalities through 2030.
Participants also deliberated on applying AI to fight malaria, polio, and neglected tropical diseases amidst tightening health and humanitarian budgets. The focus was on strengthening surveillance, enabling more targeted interventions, and optimizing resource use. Central to the discussion was empowering national health authorities to make decisions regarding technology adoption and execution. The initiative announced during the UN General Assembly combined training, technical cooperation, and leadership at the country level as its core components.