Allm Africa and MTRH - AMPATH have come together to improve the quality of cervical cancer screening in Kenya for women living with HIV/AIDS (WLWHIV).
In a groundbreaking partnership, Allm Africa and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) -AMPATH (Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare) have come together to improve the quality of cervical cancer screening in Kenya for women living with HIV/AIDS (WLWHIV). This initiative, dubbed "DigiCerv AI Project" (Digital Cervix Screening with Artificial Intelligence), is centered around the integration of a digital camera during routine screening using visualization to enhance the quality of the image and enable remote review and second opinion of a consultant through Allm's Join telemedicine platform, and thus to improve access to quality screening for thousands of women. The nGyn device is enhanced with an AI-component to enable secondary comparisons of outcome based on existing non-HIV data. This initiative spans a six-month pilot phase to test systems in preparation for a research phase to validate AI efficacy before scaling up to broader populations.
Launch of DigiCerv AI Project
The project was officially launched with a three-day training program held from the 6th to 8th of August, 2024. This training, led by Allm Africa, aimed to equip MTRH-AMPATH nurses and clinicians with skills to utilize the nGyn device for cervical cancer screening and the Join platform for real-time consultation and case-sharing with specialists.
Key participants in this initiative included Allm Africa representatives James Mwangi (Program Officer), Christian Rugamba (Senior Digital Health Specialist) and Cecilia Ndung’u (Clinical Application Specialist), who played a vital role in the training and clinical practice sessions. MTRH-AMPATH Team led by Prof. Sylvester Kimaiyo (Chief of Party), Dr. Philip Tonui (Oncologist Specialist), Enock Rugut (Senior Developer) and Isaack Kirui (Cervical Cancer Project Manager). Clinical staff who benefitted from the training included Clinicians, Nurses — who are providing cervical cancer screening services at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital showing a strong commitment to the project.
While receiving the nGyn device, USAID AMPATH Uzima Chief of Party, Professor Kimaiyo, expressed his excitement about the project’s potential to significantly improve the screening and care of women living with HIV/AIDS, stating, "This collaboration represents a major leap forward in leveraging AI to enhance patient outcomes, especially for vulnerable groups. This partnership provides an opportunity to test potentials of the Device, Telemedicine platform and AI component to enhance screening but also help in early diagnosis and timely treatment, ultimately saving lives."
The MTRH-AMPATH and Allm Africa partnership reflects a shared vision for improving patient care through digital health innovation, demonstrating how AI and telemedicine can transform healthcare delivery and outcomes. This collaborative effort holds immense promise for improving women's health in Kenya and beyond.