Sightsavers and WHO launch AI skills course for disease programmes

Sightsavers and the World Health Organization have launched an artificial intelligence (AI) literacy course for programme leaders working on eliminating neglected tropical diseases.

Produced in collaboration with the Expanded Special Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN), the course runs for seven months and equips participants with the skills they need to use generative AI in their work. It will help programme leaders to analyse data more efficiently, communicate findings more clearly and make evidence-based decisions about neglected tropical diseases.

The first course launched in March 2026, with 17 ministry of health staff enrolled from Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Sudan and Togo. Participants attend monthly live sessions, complete applied homework assignments and attend one-to-one meetings with facilitators.

Alex Pavluck, Sightsavers’ senior adviser for AI and health information systems, said: “Rather than a traditional lecture-based format, we wanted to emphasise hands on learning, with participants applying new tools and techniques to real challenges drawn from their own national programmes.”

The course, known as ‘Amplify’, aims to build local capacity to use AI tools and services to support the elimination of neglected tropical diseases, which would deliver greater equity and prosperity for people across the world.

Sightsavers and AI

Sightsavers is committed to using AI ethically and responsibly, with a focus on inclusion and safeguarding, particularly for people with disabilities. Real people and their stories will always be at the heart of Sightsavers’ work.

Sightsavers recognises the huge opportunities that AI can present and is exploring how to use it effectively across its programmes. We will never use content generated by AI to prove the impact of our work, and will always be transparent about when AI has been used.