The hub was launched on the sidelines of the Global AI Summit on Africa on April 3, 2025, by the Minister of Health, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, and Minister of State Dr. Yvan Butera. They were joined by fellow African Health Ministers and esteemed partners.
According to the officials, the facility leverages real-time data from communities and health facilities to track trends, enhancing evidence-based disease surveillance. It will enable timely decision-making, efficient resource allocation, and policy adjustments to drive impactful change in healthcare.
Located in Kiyovu within the Rwanda Utilities Regulation Authority (RURA) building, the center employs a diverse team, including medical doctors, data scientists, software developers, and programmers.
The initiative focuses on tracking the efficiency of public health equipment such as ambulances and hospital refrigeration systems while also collecting and analyzing medical procedure outcomes to inform policies.
A key feature of the facility is its data warehouse, which stores patient care records, routine reports from healthcare facilities, and feedback from community health workers and the public.
This data is used to assess service delivery, monitor hospital performance, and improve health system efficiency.
Advanced technological solutions, including machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), play a crucial role in predicting health trends and improving service delivery. For instance, AI-driven models can analyze maternal health data to anticipate pregnancy complications and issue early warnings to healthcare providers.
The hub also integrates telemedicine services, allowing remote consultations and enhancing access to healthcare. Additionally, real-time monitoring systems have been deployed to track hospital equipment functionality.
Refrigeration units in health facilities are now fitted with sensors that relay temperature data to the intelligence facility, ensuring vaccines and other temperature-sensitive medical supplies are stored safely.
'We can see the fridges and the exact temperature at which they are in real time. We can put the sensors on all of the equipment,' Muzungu Hirwa, a data scientist and medical doctor, remarked.
Similarly, ambulances are equipped with tracking systems that provide real-time data on their locations and operational efficiency.
Muhammad Semakula, head of the Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Health Financing Department at the Ministry of Health, emphasized the importance of leveraging big data to optimize resource allocation and improve healthcare outcomes.
He highlighted that data from Rwanda's 58,000 community health workers would be integral to the facility's operations, feeding into a centralized digital system for streamlined service delivery.
Health Minister Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana praised the initiative, stating that it will facilitate data-driven decision-making, reducing delays in policy implementation.
The move aligns with Rwanda's broader digital health strategy, which includes the upcoming launch of e-Ubuzima, a platform designed to provide patients with online access to their medical records and appointment scheduling.
IGIHE
