MBABANE – A new artificial intelligence-powered diagnostic system for diabetic retinopathy has officially been launched across six public hospitals and health centres in Eswatini.
The rollout forms part of a partnership between the Kingdom of Eswatini and the Republic of China (Taiwan) through the Taiwan Technical Mission’s Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Project. The launch ceremony was held on Thursday at the Mbabane Government Hospital.
The AI-assisted diagnostic equipment is now operational at Mbabane Government Hospital, Piggs Peak Hospital, Mankayane Hospital, Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital, Dvokolwako Health Centre, and Emkhuzweni Health Centre.
Taiwanese Ambassador Jeremy Liang and Eswatini’s Minister of Health Mduduzi Matsebula jointly officiated the launch. The two governments say the technology will improve early detection of diabetic retinopathy and reduce preventable blindness among people living with diabetes.
Technical staff from the Taiwan team conducted several days of on-site setup and training before the devices were handed over to local health authorities. The equipment uses AI to detect retinal damage linked to diabetes and is expected to speed up diagnosis while reducing the need for specialist consultations in rural areas.
The Taiwan Technical Mission says it plans to expand the use of AI-driven solutions in the country’s health system to support more people with chronic diseases.
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