An innovative palm-sized Artificial Intelligence (AI) stethoscope is offering a major breakthrough for Tuberculosis (TB) detection in South Africa’s informal settlements.
The cutting-edge technology was recently tested by Project Impilo at a school screening day in Joe Slovo, Cape Town, Western Cape province.
Project partners say the device provides a portable, game-changing alternative to traditional X-ray machines in a country where TB claims fifty-thousand lives annually.
Chief Executive Officer of the Impilo Project Doctor Dale Smith says, “What we bringing to the healthcare system is really accessibility from both a portability aspect and the cost aspect. So, x-rays, yes they are, you know, can be bulky and difficult to transport and sometimes even have some regulatory requirements to be set up in certain areas, but they’re also really expensive. Whereas, our tool is, you know, it fits in the palm of your hands, it’s a low-cost solution, and it can be used by multiple different users. It doesn’t have to be a radiographer. So, a community health worker can use our tool, which is another massive advancement in accessibility to the community for screening.”
—SABC—
