Rise to the Challenge: AI-Powered Communities Battling Vector-Borne Diseases in the Face of Climate Change

Devotha Nyambo of the Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology in Tanzania will develop AI-based predictive models as an early warning system for vector-borne diseases, integrating community-based information gathering and vector control and focusing on malaria and dengue in areas of Tanzania particularly vulnerable to climate change. They will develop the models using topographic data from satellite images, historical climate and weather data, and vector-borne disease data sets. They will train women and youth to identify and eliminate mosquito breeding sites and larvae, and they will create user-friendly interfaces for this observational data to be reported and integrated into the predictive models. The early warning system, enhanced by direct engagement and education of community members, will guide effective strategies to mitigate the impact of vector-borne diseases.