HPEAAICM Conference: Public Health Experts Meet In Ibadan, Caution Against Abuse Of AI In Health Promotion Practices
Members of the Health promotion and education alumni association, Ibadan College of medicine have converged on Ibadan, Oyo state capital for its global scientific conference and 2nd annual general meeting aimed at building capacity of members in the health sector.
The conference which began on Tuesday 24th September, 2024 with the theme “Artificial Intelligence and Innovations in Public Health Promotion Practices” provided opportunity for the alumni health educators, students, and research community to interact with policy makers and public health consumers.
In an address, a professor of public health and president, Ibadan college of medicine alumni association worldwide, Professor Emmanuel Otolorin who acknowledged the significance of AI in reshaping health care delivery, called for caution in its usage.
Professor Otolorin said though AI has enormous opportunities that can be used in healthcare delivery, practitioners must be careful in the way they deploy the tools available on the AI platforms.
He explained that despite the advantages in using AI tools, it was dangerous for Nigerians to attempt to replace the services of health workers with AI, adding that some AI applications do hallucinate
While citing example of robotic surgery, Professor Otolorin said human beings are always available to monitor the surgery to ensure the exercise is safe, stressing that AI should to be a complement and not a replacement for healthcare workers,
He said: “My son is a computer scientist and he actually showed me how an AI tool created a drug that does not exist, and describing side effect of the drug that does not exist. So you have to be a content expert, if you ask AI tool to do something, you have to be knowledgeable enough to that what it has done is correct”.
“Patients Must be careful too, because there some people now that use Google as their doctor, and when you make Google your doctor, you have to be responsible for what happens to you. Especially in a country where pharmacist will sell you any drugs without prescription.
“Some of the people that wrote these AI programmes are not medicals, so they may not be always correct in the response, so you still need the healthcare worker to say, if these things happen, if these results are like this, this is what you give.”
Also speaking, Dr Bright Orji, President, Health Promotion And Education Alumni Association, Ibadan College of medicine said health practitioners can do alot in research using AI, but warned them to ensure that the use of AI in carrying out health services is not misplaced or abused.
Dr. Orji emphasized the need for health promotion and sensitization among Nigerians which he described as a means of enlightening the people on forming and sustaining good health habits at all times.
He said the aim of the conference was to explore what AI can contribute as an emerging technology to public health and building the capacity of members.
While declaring the conference opened, the vice chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Adebowale, represented by the 13th provost of the College of medicine, University of Ibadan, Professor Temidayo Ogundiran commended the department for its role in health promotion and education which he said was having positive impacts on national and global health.
The vice chancellor who was fascinated with the theme of the conference said the focus of the meeting was necessary especially at a time when the world is going nuclear which the health sector cannot afford to be left behind.
Earlier in an address, the acting head, Health Promotion And Education Department, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan said the conference offered unique opportunity to explore the depths and breath of AI in promoting public health education.
