Students Showcase AI-Driven Health Innovations as Hackathon Ends

The three-day Artificial Intelligence healthcare hackathon organized by the Department of Computer Science culminated in a high-stakes finale that saw student innovators unveil cutting-edge solutions aimed at transforming healthcare delivery.

Held under the theme “Innovating Healthcare with Artificial Intelligence,” the training brought together students from Computer Science, Applied Computer Science, BBIT, and Health Records programmes, equipping them with practical skills while fostering innovation in tackling real-world medical challenges.

The event was officially opened by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Henry Mutembei, who reaffirmed the University’s commitment to innovation and urged participants to harness artificial intelligence to develop impactful healthcare solutions. Tharaka Nithi County Health Records and Information Officer Ms. Jennifer Nduva also challenged students to address existing gaps in Health Information Systems, offering valuable industry insights to guide their projects. A keynote address by Pekka Ollika of Fintai, Finland, further highlighted the transformative potential of AI in revolutionizing healthcare across Africa.

By the final day, the hackathon had evolved into a competitive showcase of innovation, with Renal Watch emerging as the overall winner. The AI-powered remote patient monitoring system impressed judges for its ability to automate patient data collection and analysis, addressing critical gaps in chronic kidney disease care and enabling timely intervention.

Parasight, a malaria detection system, secured second place with its use of YOLO26m object detection architecture to enhance diagnostic accuracy and speed, particularly in resource-limited settings. Fem Scan AI took third position, offering an intelligent cervical cancer screening solution that integrates multiple diagnostic inputs to detect abnormalities early and predict future cancer risk.

The hackathon, which featured intensive workshops and mentorship sessions led by industry experts and AI/ML professionals, underscored the growing role of artificial intelligence in healthcare innovation. As participants presented scalable and practical solutions, the event reaffirmed the University’s role in nurturing talent and advancing technology-driven approaches to modern healthcare challenges.