NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – Global health authorities have urged for a national-centric approach to artificial intelligence in fighting diseases during a session at the UN General Assembly in New York. The event assembled health ministers, funding bodies, diagnostics innovators, and public health specialists. The Global Institute for Disease Elimination, the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, and the Nigerian government jointly hosted the discussion. Attendees explored how AI can enhance disease monitoring, aid health-related decision-making, and efficiently allocate resources to the most urgent needs.
Michael Adekunle Charles, CEO of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, spoke on behalf of Nigeria’s Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate. His remarks underlined the importance of national authority in determining how health systems integrate new technologies. Nigeria is also advancing its Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, which includes primary healthcare and domestic health financing. Participants agreed that AI deployment should be driven by national priorities, health system capacity, and local conditions.
Discussions focused on the infrastructure essential for broadening AI application in public health. Key topics covered included data management systems, workforce development, integration within existing health structures, and funding for sustainable programs. According to the latest World Health Organization malaria assessment, there were an estimated 282 million cases and 610,000 deaths globally in 2024. The WHO African Region continues to bear the greatest burden, with Nigeria reporting the highest estimated number of malaria cases among countries in the region.
Leadership in Public Health to Benefit from AI Training Initiatives
GLIDE announced the launch of two AI training programs aimed at national program managers and public health workers. The GLIDE Leadership Excellence in AI for Health program targets senior health decision-makers and is scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi from January 17 to 22, 2027. The initial in-person cohort will consist of 25 to 30 participants. Instead of focusing on AI model development, the curriculum emphasizes AI governance, strategic deployment, organizational readiness, and accountability.
Another initiative, AI for All, was created by Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence and adapted with GLIDE to serve public health professionals. This online course comprises four modules and requires no coding or technical background. It covers foundational AI concepts, generative AI tools, issues of bias, privacy, accountability, and human oversight. The goal is to equip health workers with practical skills to assess and implement AI solutions within their organizations.
Partnerships Formalized Between GLIDE and RBM to Combat Malaria
During the New York gathering, GLIDE and the RBM Partnership to End Malaria also signed a letter of mutual understanding. This framework aims to link technical expertise, AI innovation, and capacity-building initiatives with national malaria control priorities. Its focus is on fostering country-led efforts for malaria elimination and management. The agreement complements the World Health Organization’s Global Technical Strategy for Malaria, which seeks to reduce cases and fatalities worldwide through 2030.
The participants also addressed the role of AI in combating malaria, polio, and neglected tropical diseases amid constrained health and humanitarian budgets. Emphasis was placed on improving disease surveillance, enabling more targeted interventions, and optimizing resource use. The organizers highlighted the importance of national health authorities leading decisions about technology adoption and application. The main thrust of the announced initiative at the UN Assembly was a combination of training, technical collaboration, and empowering country-level leadership.