- AI X-rays speed up TB testing in HIV patients
- Over 467,000 new TB cases recorded in 2023
- Nigeria to deploy 370 new portable scan units
The U.S. CDC is backing a nationwide rollout of AI-powered X-ray machines to help Nigeria detect and treat TB faster especially among people living with HIV.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced support for Nigeria’s expansion of AI-enabled Portable Digital X-ray (PDX) machines to tackle the country’s rising tuberculosis (TB) and HIV burden.
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According to health officials, the smart devices are designed to detect TB even in people who don’t show obvious symptoms a major breakthrough for early diagnosis, especially in individuals living with HIV who often face delayed detection.
Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja, Dr. Flora Nwagagbo of CDC Nigeria said the new technology would help close the diagnostic gap and improve treatment access in hard-to-reach areas. The machines, she noted, will be deployed in mobile vans and fixed centers, allowing communities without major hospitals to benefit from early scans.
Data from 2023 shows that Nigeria recorded over 467,000 TB cases and 71,000 deaths, with around 140,000 cases among people also living with HIV. Experts say delays in testing often mean people are diagnosed too late.
Dr. Emperor Ubochioma from Nigeria’s National Tuberculosis Programme highlighted how mobile PDX units are already making a difference, especially where patients cannot afford to travel for testing. “We’re now seeing more cases being caught early,” he said.
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The AI software can analyze chest scans quickly and with high accuracy, providing on-the-spot results. Unlike manual reviews that may take days, the new system shortens the time between diagnosis and treatment.
This CDC-backed move aligns with Nigeria’s broader health strategy, which includes acquiring 370 more PDX units to cover all 36 states and the FCT. Health experts believe this will significantly boost TB case finding and cut down transmission rates in rural and urban settings alike.
The initiative not only saves lives it also shows how innovation can reshape public health delivery. As Ekohotblogs reports, combining artificial intelligence with mobile healthcare could be the key to ending Nigeria’s decades-long TB crisis.
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