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in hospitals , for example , supporting more accurate malaria diagnosis .

AI is also being used for predictive analysis and surveillance , with scientists using AI to analyse environmental and meteorological data to predict areas where malaria outbreaks are likely to occur and guide more effective targeting of prevention and control measures to these high-risk regions . The Forecasting Healthy Futures initiative , for example , is using AI to identify proactive solutions that anticipate and mitigate the effects of a warming planet on human health in the most vulnerable communities .

at risk . Meanwhile , the funding gap for addressing malaria continues to widen , with estimates suggesting annual investments will need to triple by 2030 – to US $ 10.3 billion per year – to meet global targets .

In this context , it is imperative that the power of AI is effectively leveraged in the fight against malaria .

How AI is being used in the fight against malaria in Africa

The good news is that the global malaria community has already been trialling and utilising AI to detect and treat malaria in affected regions and drive innovation to accelerate progress .

Early detection and diagnosis of malaria is essential to effectively treating the disease . Researchers and companies , such as Intellectual Ventures ( U . S .), or Noul Inc . ( South Korea ), are using algorithms to analyse microscopic images of blood samples to detect malaria parasites in red blood cells . These algorithms have the potential to detect malaria and identify various species and could serve as a reference method

While delivering existing tools for malaria control is critical to saving lives from malaria , new and improved tools are needed to address emerging threats such as antimalarial resistance . AI simulations are being used to accelerate the process of discovering new antimalarial drugs by analysing interactions between potential drug compounds and malaria parasites , helping researchers identify promising drugs for further testing .

Finally , malaria services are a core part of the wider health system in malariaaffected countries , and AI can also be applied to optimise healthcare delivery . AI is , for example , now assisting in the optimisation of healthcare supply chains , ensuring that essential antimalarial drugs , diagnostic tools and insecticides are available in the right quantities and locations .

How ScanForm is helping to improve malaria control

ScanForm is an AI-powered technology developed by QED that allows health professionals and malaria researchers to capture digital data from handwritten forms , simply by taking a photo with a standard smartphone . Once the photo is uploaded , AI extracts the information

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