Online Reporter
Eliah Saushoma [email protected]
AN artificial intelligence-powered health diagnosis kiosk capable of capturing up to 70 patient health parameters was unveiled at the 13th Annual Zimbabwe Defence Health Services Conference, which ended in Bulawayo on Friday, marking a major step towards modernising the country’s healthcare delivery system with positive outcomes piloted in the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF).
The innovation, developed by Digita Health Solutions, a division of Prime Health Medical Diagnostics Laboratories, integrates multiple diagnostic functions into a single platform, enabling rapid patient assessment and linking patients directly to clinicians through telemedicine.
The technology is expected to improve healthcare efficiency, reduce waiting times and ease pressure on overstretched medical personnel, while supporting the Government’s drive towards digital transformation in the health sector under Vision 2030.
Speaking during the conference, Digita Health Solutions managing director Mr Benjamin Chibaira said the system eliminates the need for patients to move between different healthcare practitioners for routine examinations.
“Instead of patients going to different practitioners to get various vitals taken, all measurements can be done from one kiosk. The system can be integrated or customised to capture up to 70 different parameters depending on need,” said Mr Chibaira.
He said about one-third of the assessments are non-invasive, with patients simply standing on a smart diagnostic platform while key health indicators are automatically captured.
The remaining tests are conducted using basic point-of-care procedures integrated into the kiosk.
Mr Chibaira said pilot studies have shown that the technology reduces the time taken to capture patient vital signs from approximately 10 minutes to less than three minutes.
“This means doctors can attend to more patients within the same period, helping to ease pressure caused by staff shortages,” he stated, adding that the system also supports remote consultations, enabling users to access specialists without travelling.
“What sets this telemedicine model apart is that doctors receive a patient’s vital signs instantly, allowing them to make informed decisions on the spot. This real-time integration brings quality healthcare closer to communities and positions Zimbabwe to leapfrog in global digital health innovation,” said Mr Chibaira.
Beyond individual care, Mr Chibaira highlighted the kiosk’s potential to strengthen national health planning, particularly in the fight against non-communicable diseases. He said aggregated and anonymised data generated by the kiosks could serve as an early warning system.
“If potential epidemics are emerging in different areas, we can detect them quickly before they spread,” he said.
The demonstration attracted strong interest from the uniformed forces, many of whom interacted with the kiosk at exhibition stands.
The 13th Annual Zimbabwe Defence Health Services Conference, held under the theme “Strengthening Defence Health Systems for a Resilient Force,” brought together military health professionals, policymakers and healthcare innovators to discuss strategies for enhancing health service delivery within the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
Earlier in his address, ZDF Commander, General Emmanuel Matatu, warned that Zimbabwe’s hard-won gains in the fight against HIV have ushered in a new public health challenge, with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and cancer emerging as the country’s next major health security threat.
He told delegates that the success of antiretroviral therapy has enabled people living with HIV to live longer, but many are now developing chronic illnesses that require the country’s health system to move beyond disease-specific treatment towards integrated care.
Gen Matatu revealed that the changing disease profile is already evident within the uniformed forces, where nearly one in every three consultations now involves an NCD, with the burden particularly high among personnel aged 40 years and above.
“Today, in many of our uniformed health services, NCDs are accounting for nearly one in every three consultations, representing a whopping 33 percent and becoming a new threat on the block.
“This is more prevalent among personnel aged 40 and above, where conditions like hypertension are now very common,” said Gen Matatu.
“For example, a soldier living with HIV may also develop diabetes or a police officer on long-term antiretroviral therapy may also suffer from high blood pressure. This is what is called comorbidities, that is, multiple health conditions occurring at the same time,” he lamented.
Gen Matatu said the increase in NCDs being experienced within the uniformed forces calls for a more integrated approach to treatment, starting at the primary healthcare level, at the clinic or sickbay where most personnel first seek medical attention. He said a well-integrated system ensures that everyone tested for HIV is also screened for high blood pressure.
Furthermore, Gen Matatu said every diabetes patient must be asked about their mental health, and every soldier returning from deployment must be screened for both infectious and communicable diseases.
In Zimbabwe, approximately 11 percent of adults live with HIV and at the same time, data from military health facilities in the region shows that hypertension affects nearly 25 percent of uniformed personnel over the age of 35.
Diabetes is found in about eight percent of the same group and among those living with both HIV and an NCD, the risk of hospitalisation is more than double.
The gathering, which was attended by delegates from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), also emphasised the vital role of the region in tackling the disease burden through sharing best practices, harmonising training standards, and pooling resources for research and procurement.
For example, some countries in the region have already introduced integrated health records for their uniformed personnel, while others have developed joint training modules for nurses to manage both HIV and NCDs.
The conference also reiterated the need to invest in mental health to deal with stress, anxiety, and depression, which are common in high-pressure environments.
