The Utilizing Health Information for Meaningful Impact in East Africa through Data Science (UZIMA-DS) Research Hub is a state-of-the-art, scalable, and sustainable platform dedicated to the application of advanced data assimilation techniques and novel artificial intelligence and machine learning methodologies. The core objective of the hub is to develop early warning systems designed to significantly improve health outcomes for young Africans, with a special focus on maternal, newborn, and child health as well as mental health.
Why focus on young people's health?
Africa is the youngest continent in the world, with 60% of its population under the age of 25. The span between early life to young adulthood represents a critical window where biological, environment and psychosocial events can significantly impact long-term uzima, which means health or well-being in Swahili. Coupled with the recent technological advances and the enormous volumes of data collected in Africa, there is an unprecedented opportunity to leverage data science to identify and improve the health trajectories of young Africans.
Advancing research through interdisciplinary partnership
The UZIMA-DS Research Hub, hosted at Aga Khan University's Institute for Human Development, fosters a synergistic collaboration among experts in statistics, computer science, and informatics; healthcare clinicians and practitioners; and key community stakeholders. This interdisciplinary approach aims to enhance the quality, efficiency, and relevance of multidisciplinary data science in health research.
PARTNERS: Aga Khan Foundation, Aga Khan Health Services Tanzania, Clinton Health Access Initiative, County Government of Kilifi, King's College London, Ministry of Health Kenya, Nairobi Metropolitan Services, University of Michigan, University of Notre Dame, University of Ottawa, Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KEMRI)
