AI-Powered Telemedicine: A Lifeline for Refugee Healthcare in Africa
With growing refugee populations and limited healthcare resources, artificial intelligence-supported telemedicine is emerging as a crucial solution for providing medical care to displaced individuals across Africa. This innovative approach is helping overcome numerous barriers that have long hindered refugees’ access to quality healthcare.
The Refugee Healthcare Crisis
Africa’s refugee situation continues to worsen, with the Eastern region and Horn of Africa alone accounting for 20.2 million internally displaced persons and 5 million refugees and asylum seekers as of 2024. The ongoing conflict in Sudan has exacerbated this crisis, internally displacing over half the country’s population and forcing approximately 2.3 million to flee to neighbouring nations.
Amina Mahmoud Shaein, co-founder of the Gender Centre for Research and Training in Sudan, describes the dire circumstances: “We are in a very serious disaster situation because of this war. There is sexual violence, and this makes it a bit harder for women because of their vulnerable situation and specific needs like healthcare. Pregnant women without healthcare are in a very difficult situation.”
The Sudan Clinic: A Case Study in AI-Assisted Telemedicine
One notable innovation in this space is the Sudan Clinic chatbot, an AI-assisted telemedicine service offering free virtual healthcare to Sudanese refugees. Developed by Gupshup in collaboration with Meta, this service leverages the power of phone connectivity to reach refugees across 42 countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.
Ravi Mehta, sales director at Gupshup, explains the process: “Refugees only need an internet-enabled phone to see a team of volunteer doctors working with the clinic by presenting their case through the centralised WhatsApp number +44 7715 203515.”
The technology facilitates seamless interaction between patients and doctors. Patients send automated messages to triage agents through WhatsApp. These agents virtually assess the patient’s condition and then route the medical data to approximately 90 volunteer specialist doctors, who immediately diagnose the condition and prescribe treatment.
Overcoming Barriers
AI-powered telemedicine is helping to surmount numerous obstacles that have traditionally impeded refugee healthcare access. Brigid Waliuba, health technical adviser at the International Rescue Committee, notes: “Specialist doctors cannot be based in refugee camps due to the high demand for their services. But with AI and telemedicine, we can reach them, hence making the workload for health workers easier. We are also able to give quality healthcare to more patients in camps.”
The Digital Divide Challenge
While AI-supported telemedicine is promising, the digital divide remains a significant hurdle. The UN Refugee Agency reports that 68% of urban refugee households have internet-capable smartphones, compared to only 22% in rural areas. Moreover, approximately 20% of rural refugees lack access to mobile and electricity connectivity.
To address this disparity, Waliuba emphasises the importance of supporting innovations in solar energy generation and social protection initiatives like cash transfers in refugee camps.
The Future of Humanitarian Healthcare
As Africa’s digital connectivity expands, AI-powered telemedicine is poised to play an increasingly vital role in humanitarian response efforts. Waliuba affirms this potential: “These technologies are being recognised for their potential to improve healthcare access, reduce costs and bridge other gaps in regions like the global south where infrastructure and resources are limited.”
By leveraging the power of AI and telemedicine, humanitarian organisations are working to ensure that refugees can access the quality healthcare they desperately need and deserve, even in the most challenging circumstances.
