Adeola Bamiro speaks on the role of AI in chronic disease management: A new era of personalised care in Nigeria

Chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affect millions of people worldwide, placing a heavy strain on healthcare systems, particularly in resource-limited countries. As of 2020, approximately 64% of Nigerians reported having one or more chronic diseases, significantly contributing to increased mortality and morbidity rates in the country. 

Factors such as limited healthcare access, insufficient diagnostic tools, and fragmented healthcare systems hinder effective disease management. The situation is worsened in rural areas, where healthcare facilities are scarce, leaving many individuals without consistent care or monitoring.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a powerful tool for managing chronic diseases, offering solutions to improve patient care, expand healthcare access, and enhance treatment effectiveness. AI can address key challenges in Nigeria’s healthcare system, such as the shortage of healthcare professionals, by enabling remote consultations, continuous monitoring, and personalized treatment. 

AI-powered apps and wearable devices allow healthcare providers to receive real-time health data, improving timely interventions without requiring regular visits. AI-driven predictive analytics can help forecast disease outbreaks, anticipate healthcare needs, and optimize resource allocation, improving both preventive care and chronic disease management.

In diabetes management, AI technologies are revolutionizing how patients monitor their health. 

Smart insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors equipped with AI capabilities provide real-time data on blood glucose levels, enabling continuous monitoring. These devices utilize machine learning algorithms to analyze fluctuations in blood sugar, adjusting insulin dosages with remarkable precision. 

This personalized approach not only enhances diabetes management but also significantly reduces the risk of severe complications such as cardiovascular disease and nerve damage.

Hypertension, often dubbed the “silent killer,” is another area where AI is making strides. AI tools facilitate early detection and continuous monitoring of blood pressure, empowering patients and healthcare providers with timely information. AI-enabled devices can track blood pressure in real-time, alerting users to any concerning changes. Furthermore, by analyzing historical data, AI algorithms can identify risk factors, predict future blood pressure trends, and recommend lifestyle modifications or medication adjustments. This proactive management is crucial in mitigating the risks of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney damage often associated with poorly controlled hypertension.

Unfortunately, the widespread adoption of AI in Nigeria faces significant challenges. One key obstacle is the integration of AI technologies into existing, often fragmented, healthcare systems. 

This requires prioritizing the development of standardized Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems that can seamlessly interface with AI tools, enabling both public and private healthcare facilities to adopt them. Another critical challenge is the collection and analysis of accurate, real-time data.

In Nigeria, incomplete or outdated data hinders effective AI utilization for monitoring patient outcomes and predicting health trends. Investing in robust health data infrastructure is essential to provide reliable, up-to-date information for AI-driven decision-making and care management. To facilitate successful implementation, the Nigerian government should incentivize AI adoption through pilot programs. These programs would allow policymakers, healthcare providers, and technology developers to test and refine AI technologies within local settings, assessing the potential return on investment (ROI) and determining optimal integration strategies. Ultimately, practical evidence and data from these pilot programs are crucial for developing context-specific AI strategies that align with Nigeria’s healthcare needs and infrastructure, thereby improving chronic disease management and overall healthcare delivery.

Adeola Bamiro is a dedicated data scientist and analytics specialist with a profound commitment to transforming healthcare in Nigeria through innovative artificial intelligence solutions. Currently pursuing a graduate degree in Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence, Adeola has over a decade of experience in data science, focusing on projects that drive operational efficiency and optimize decision-making within the Nigerian healthcare system.

Her impactful work as a Graduate Research Assistant at Kennesaw State University highlights her dedication to improving health outcomes. There, she developed predictive models that enhanced student retention in nursing programs, showcasing her belief in data-driven solutions to address critical healthcare challenges. Adeola’s work has specifically focused on leveraging AI to tackle chronic diseases prevalent in Nigeria, such as diabetes and hypertension, aiming to provide equitable access to effective management tools for underserved populations. By focusing on the unique needs of Nigeria’s healthcare landscape, Adeola Bamiro is not only paving the way for technological advancements but also fostering a vision of a healthier, more equitable future for all Nigerians.

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