A group of humanitarian organizations unveiled the Precision Public Health initiative on the sidelines of the General Assembly of the United Nations on Sept. 25, with a goal of using artificial intelligence and data science to improve global health.
The initiative’s ultimate goal is to prevent 6 million deaths in 10 developing nations, beginning with India and Uganda, by 2030. This goal is supported by $100 million in funding, led by the Rockefeller Foundation and with additional participation from UNICEF, the World Health Organization and The Global Fund, among several other global philanthropic organizations.
The funding will be used to expand the reach of existing AI- and data-driven tools to increase access to and improve the quality of care in developing nations, focusing specifically on reducing maternal and child mortality. The initiative will arm frontline health workers with solutions to direct their focus to areas most in need and to predict and triage health emergencies in advance.
"Data is a powerful tool that can help us make life-saving decisions and prevent epidemics before they happen," Henrietta Fore, executive director of UNICEF, said in a statement. "Timely, reliable and disaggregated data, underpinned by a commitment to universal health coverage, can ensure that vulnerable women, children and young people get the care they need at the right place and the right time."