Global South Students Pioneer AI Solutions at AI4GHI 2024 Summit
[Global] November 16, 2024 – The air buzzed with anticipation as 12 finalist teams from nine countries across the Global South converged on Saturday at the AI for Global Health Innovation (AI4GHI) 2024 Student Summit.
Held virtually at 1:30 PM GMT, months of collaboration, learning, and late-night problem-solving came to a head as these young innovators shared ideas to combat health crises exacerbated by climate change, urbanization, and inequity.
Since its launch in August, the challenge has engaged 140 students from 21 countries, bringing together expertise from health sciences, computer science, environmental science, and more. Participants were tasked to address five pressing themes: from predictive analytics for disease outbreaks to the intersection of climate change and mental health. Despite their varied disciplines, a common thread bound them: the drive to make a tangible impact on global health systems.
“Each team brought a spark,” said Prof. Gelan Ayana. “The solutions weren’t just ideas—they were born from the unique realities of the students’ communities.”
AI4GHI 2024 Student Summit Winners
On the final day, Diyah Utami Kusumaning Putri’s team from Indonesia earned the $1,000 first prize for their ExplainDengue system, using cutting-edge AI to predict dengue outbreaks in high-risk areas. Khouloud Boltane’s team from Tunisia followed closely, winning $600 for deploying drones and AI to monitor waterborne cholera threats in real time. In third place, Brazilian team led by João Constantino received $400 for their automated antiviral repurposing model, opening new possibilities for dengue treatment.
Equally inspiring were the winners of the Science Communication Award. Ghada Issa’s proactive mHealth system for brucellosis detection claimed first place for its life-saving potential. Jacob Usaraga’s team from the Philippines, honored with second place, highlighted their journey of learning, calling it “nerve-wracking yet professionally enriching” as they balanced AI models with community-driven solutions to combat dengue.
For team member Mario M. Dimapilis who is presently pursing a Master of Public Health degree, the road was both humbling and exhilarating. Their project, Leveraging AI and Predictive Models to Combat Dengue in Iloilo, pushed him to learn technical jargon he’d never encountered before.
“I was Googling ‘machine learning’ and ‘GitHub’ at midnight,” Mario laughed. “But presenting our work to an international audience? That was nerve-wracking in the best way. It made me grow professionally and personally.”
Nadeen Erekat, who placed third, candidly shared the challenges of presenting as a non-native English speaker, explaining how the experience helped her grow in resilience and confidence while advancing her work in detecting cardiovascular disease.
“I was so nervous—I struggled to keep my thoughts clear,” Nadeen shared. Yet, she emerged with a newfound resilience. “It taught me to manage stress and find strength in vulnerability. The judges’ feedback? Priceless.”
What’s Next for the Finalists?
This is just the beginning. The top two teams, who will be supported in publishing their findings in peer-reviewed journals, are actively addressing SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), demonstrating how youth-led innovation can bridge technology and humanity to create a healthier, more equitable world. This opportunity will allow their solutions to reach a global audience and inspire further innovation in AI for health equity.
In addition, finalists are encouraged to continue refining their ideas, with many planning to pursue collaborations sparked during the summit.
Where Innovation Meets Purpose
The summit wasn’t just a test of skill—it was a celebration of collaboration. Judges praised the People Innovation Award winners from Indonesia for their project on a Dengue Outbreak Prediction system, calling it a solution that felt both “heartfelt and actionable.” Meanwhile, students like Mario and Nadeen called for more opportunities to “connect as researchers beyond the competition.”
The summit also underscored the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration. With students from programs as varied as physics and environmental science working alongside medical professionals, the event fostered a vibrant exchange of ideas.
As the event closed, a sense of shared purpose lingered in the air. Each student had not only delivered a solution but also contributed to a growing global conversation.
“These ideas carry hope,” said Dr. Jude Kong. “The students aren’t just solving today’s problems—they’re shaping tomorrow’s possibilities.”For more on the finalists and their work, visit AI4GHI Finalists.