Huawei South Africa on Friday announced that the team behind e-KasiCare will compete in China’s global finals of the Huawei Tech4Good competition. This follows their impressive performance at the Sub-Saharan Africa regional finals last year.
e-Kasi Care is a virtual medical consultation solution that uses AI and 5G technologies to connect rural residents with urban medical resources. The system captures key health metrics like heart rate, temperature, and respiratory rate, providing doctors with the data for accurate diagnoses. By integrating thermal cameras, heart rate monitors, and cloud-based analysis tools, e-Kasi Care achieves a 94 per cent accuracy rate in diagnosing certain illnesses.
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Addressing healthcare disparities
In South Africa, 19 million people live in rural areas with limited access to healthcare and a high doctor-to-patient ratio. e-Kasi Care addresses this issue by offering virtual consultations, ensuring rural South Africans receive timely access to quality care.
As Thirushan Pather, the team leader, notes, “Rural South Africans also have a right and deserve access to healthcare”.
The team’s solution is built on the belief that technology can bridge the healthcare divide. By leveraging AI and 5G, they aim to ensure that rural residents do not have to wait weeks for doctor consultations.
Minister Solly Malatsi has praised the initiative, stating, “Young people and the solutions they create are the key to building a prosperous South Africa”.
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Global recognition and team efforts
e-Kasi Care’s success has been recognised both locally and internationally. The team won the 2024 Tech4Good Southern Africa Regional Competition, and their journey was not without challenges. Initially, team members struggled to work together, but through patience and humility, they refined their solutions.
According to Ntsako Sithole, the team is resilient and agile like a springbok, signifying their South African background and pride in representing their community abroad.
Thirushan Pather has also been selected as a global ambassador for Huawei’s Seeds for the Future programme, which aims to develop skilled ICT talent and bridge communication between countries and cultures. The team’s aspirations extend beyond South Africa, with plans to expand their solution across the African continent once they achieve scalability locally.