In Botswana, a silent epidemic claims nearly half of all lives. Hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are responsible for 46% of deaths nationwide — a staggering statistic that reflects a global crisis magnified in low-resource settings. While these conditions are preventable or manageable with early intervention, access to healthcare education and tools remains uneven, particularly in rural communities.
But in this story of systemic challenge, a local innovator is proving that homegrown AI-powered solutions can turn the tide.
Benson Ncube, a tech-driven visionary from Gaborone, saw firsthand how NCDs devastated families and stretched Botswana’s healthcare infrastructure. Determined to act, Benson turned to bottom-up AI.
ThutoHealth is now available for public use. Just type your question and start interacting with the AI assistant.
Through Diplo Academy’s AI Apprenticeship, an eight-week practical training programme, Benson developed ThutoHealth, an AI assistant that delivers health education and supports healthy lifestyle choices. ‘Thuto,’ which means to learn in Setswana, embodies the chatbot’s mission: To provide accessible, culturally appropriate guidance on managing chronic conditions like blood pressure and diabetes while connecting users to local resources. It’s a digital lifeline in a country where doctors are scarce, but the mobile device adoption rate reaches 185% (many people have multiple numbers)!
But Benson’s story is about more than just technology. It’s about rethinking what equitable healthcare can look like. AI is often seen as a tool for the Global North, but Benson’s work shows that, with the proper training and support, communities can build AI to meet their specific needs.
The implications extend far beyond Botswana. Sub-Saharan Africa bears over 24% of the global disease burden but has just 3% of the world’s healthcare workers. Solutions like ThutoHealth offer a blueprint for decentralising care, reducing strain on hospitals, and prioritising prevention.
Yet scaling such innovations requires investment in three key areas:
- Localised AI training: Programmes like Diplo’s apprenticeship must expand to equip more Africans with the skills to solve regional challenges.
- Public-private partnerships: Governments and telecom companies can integrate AI health tools into existing infrastructure (e.g. subsidising data costs for medical chatbots).
- Community trust: Ensuring AI tools are culturally relevant, i.e. available in local languages and aligned with traditions, is critical for adoption.
Botswana’s fight against NCDs is far from over. But Benson Ncube’s work reminds us that the most sustainable solutions emerge when technology is rooted in the local context and human need. As global health leaders gather at multilateral forums, they must ask: How can we support the Bensons of the world — the innovators who know their communities best — to scale their impact?
The answer could save millions of lives. After all, the future of healthcare doesn’t depend only on global tech hubs or top-down solutions. It’s in the hands of those who dare to reimagine what’s possible for their communities. Share stories like Benson’s. Sometimes, the brightest hope comes from where we least expect it.
