Huguette Diakabana

 1.    What impacts would you like to see happen from your work in Africa?

One must acknowledge that technology does not exist away from culture, identity, and context. Technology is very much integrating lives in general, so as we are looking to scale any technology, if we want it to be impactful and catalytic, we must pay attention to the following;  first, what people are still grappling with, what they're trying to achieve personally and collectively. I'd like to see technology help address issues that matter to people, including those from marginalised communities. Second, we can all commit to technology being an equaliser, and all it takes is for those who are creating technology to widen their definition of a prospective user and not limit it to the elites or the formally educated. Third, we cannot ignore the public sector. The sector is indeed complex, and it is struggling in many ways. It can at times slow things down, but it is the pathway through which we can ensure technology scales and reaches the furthest corners of society. Finally, I commit to remembering those not before me when designing a process or solution. I also hope that our collective work inspires and is a lifeline for the girls in poor neighbourhoods, the little boys selling goods on busy roads to make ends meet, and people in rural areas. To make sure that happens, we need some rules of engagement. We need policy. We need regulation not to only ensure protection but also to ensure equity in the distribution and the access and sustainability.

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2.     How would you like to frame your work in AI in Africa around the healthcare provisions needed by African women?

I initially worked primarily in implementing technologies and training users in the past. However, I eventually realized that waiting until a developed technologies are ready for deployment can render one powerless. So I shifted my focus to seeking opportunities that allow me to provide input in the planning and design phases, policy and strategy development, regulatory awareness, and ensuring user and patient needs are considered. The use of AI will impact every aspect of women’s lives. I’m passionate about ensuring that women’s voices, stories, and concerns are accounted for as AI is tested and piloted. I’m also passionate about ensuring that we leverage AI to notice biases and areas we have missed in the past and whom we have left behind. I love technology and data because they cangive us a sense of our tendencies and guide where we allocate resources and efforts. Of course, we have a diverse group of people involved in interpreting data, trends, and models to avoid blind spots. If we ensure that data used to test AI are inclusive, what we discover can help people worldwide, including inAfrica, have better services and treatments. As we use data to understand people better and address confirmed priorities and needs, more and more of us will feel heard, seen, and empowered to manage all matters related to our health.  

3.     How would AI undermine or support health and well-being in Africa?

There is still a need to understand people and their priorities better. Technology can be customised to address issues that are devastating lives all across Africa. As we integrate something as powerful asAI, we would be able to identify the individualised needs of each African country and cultural context. For example, if we explore the issue of teenage pregnancies, in one context, it could mean that teenagers are dating and exploring sexually, whereas, in another context, it could mean that teenage pregnancies are not happening by choice. The solutions we propose would be very different in those two contexts. We sometimes see programs scaled at national levels because they worked in one context, without giving much to the cultural differences.These instances weaken the impact of technology in places where we cannot afford to waste time or resources.

We need to address whether solutions developers are paying attention to ethics, addressing the gap between policies and regulation, and increase diversity indecision-makers to ensure that people do not find themselves with technologies that undermine their health.

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4.     Do you have any advice for women who would like to pursue the same career path as you?

My general belief is the more we know about our field, the better we can contribute, so that is always my advice. Be open to learning. Whatever your resources are, leverage them to the maximum. Don’t limit yourself. Try to do what you are interested in to determine if you are capable. That is the philosophy that has allowed me to grow in this career. There are a variety of ways to develop skills and understanding. Most of my training in health and technology has come from working in the space and researching impactful technologies. I also reach out to other experts with questions to develop my understanding. I have learned a lot, and I am still learning. I encourage people to learn and develop their skills using whatever means available. On those occasions that they find themselves in front of an expert, they have to let go of embarrassment and ask as many questions as the person would answer. I realize that not everyone has access to learning resources and opportunities, so I also advise those in the field to take time and share what we already know.