Bridging Technology and Community: AI-Powered mHealth System Aims to Fight Brucellosis
By Mahak Kaur

On November 16, 2024, the virtual stage of the AI for Global Health Innovation (AI4GHI) 2024 Student Summit brought together twelve finalist teams from nine countries in the Global South. Overcoming geographic boundaries and time zones, these students showcased months of rigorous research and collaboration, presenting innovative ideas to address critical health challenges.

Among the visionaries was Ghada Issa, a graduate student pursuing a Master’s degree in Computer Science at Al-Quds University in Palestine. Her project, titled “A Proactive AI-Powered mHealth System for Early Detection and Warning of Brucellosis in Palestine,” exemplifies how cutting-edge technology can be adapted to tackle localized yet globally significant health issues.

A Health Crisis Rooted in Community

Brucellosis, a zoonotic disease caused by Brucella species, disproportionately impacts livestock-reliant regions, with human cases often stemming from direct animal contact. In the West Bank, Palestine, inadequate disease surveillance has led to rising infection rates and delayed public health responses.

“This competition was a fun challenge,” Ghada shared. “It gave me the opportunity to deeply examine real-world challenges in my community and think of ways to overcome them. I believe in the power of AI to combat the spread of disease, and I know this is just the first step toward better disease management and prevention.”

Her project proposes a proactive approach, leveraging AI and mHealth (mobile health) technology to enhance early detection and intervention, addressing a pressing need for timely disease control.

An Ecosystem of AI-Driven Solutions

The system Ghada is developing integrates real-time data from multiple sources—medical records, public health databases, social media, and wearable devices—creating a comprehensive monitoring platform. Through advanced deep learning and natural language processing, the project aims to identify patterns and detect anomalies with unprecedented speed and precision.

Key features of the proposed system include:

  • A mobile app for symptom tracking, contact tracing, and rapid reporting to health authorities. 📱
  • Cloud infrastructure for seamless data integration and processing. ☁️
  • Predictive models to forecast disease spread, guiding resource allocation and containment strategies.

Beyond reacting to outbreaks, this multifaceted approach anticipates them, aiming to bridge the gap between surveillance and action in low-resource settings.

Beyond the Local Scope

While tailored to address the specific challenges of brucellosis in Palestine, Ghada’s project has broader implications. If successful, it could serve as a blueprint for other regions grappling with zoonotic diseases, demonstrating the potential of AI-driven health technologies to strengthen public health systems globally. The power of this project lies in its ability to combine real-time data with predictive analytics, empowering both communities and health authorities.

Innovation in Context

Ghada’s work is a testament to the capacity of emerging technologies to address entrenched public health challenges. The initiative reflects a shift toward localized solutions that harness global tools—AI, machine learning, and mHealth—to create scalable models for change.

The AI4GHI Student Summit provided a platform for Ghada and other young innovators to refine their ideas and connect with an international community of like-minded individuals. As she put it, “This was a professionally enriching experience that reinforced my belief in the transformative potential of technology for public health.”

Read their abstract: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12OtvHKIQb08jGqhvjVSbLOrvd36dLKcZ/view

Watch their video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfeTWunRVvU

Check out all our finalists: https://ai4pep.org/ai4ghi-finalists/