Local firm in AI, NCDs breakthrough

The firm is a leading mobile device manufacturer and software developer which seeks to address the gap in health and wellness to reduce NCD deaths in Zimbabwe.

A LOCAL firm, Astrotech group, has created an artificial intelligence (AI) application, Astro Pulse to help individuals with their health and wellness to minimise chances of contracting non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

The firm is a leading mobile device manufacturer and software developer which seeks to address the gap in health and wellness to reduce NCD deaths in Zimbabwe.

In an interview Munyaradzi Gwatidzo Astrotech’s group chief executive, said NCDs had become the leading cause of death in Zimbabwe ahead of communicable diseases such as HIV and TB.

“These diseases, however, are largely preventable through lifestyle modification and behaviour change,” he said.

The Astro Pulse application was designed and manufactured as a digital health and wellness solution which utilises wearable devices (smart watches) that are linked to a health and wellness platform so that signed up individuals benefit from real time, health vitals monitoring and receive appropriate health coaching services digitally.

NCDs are diseases that are not spread through infection or contact with other people, but are caused by unhealthy behaviours. These conditions include cancers, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic lung illnesses, injuries and mental health disorders.

Many NCDs can be prevented by reducing common risk factors such as tobacco use, harmful alcohol use, physical inactivity and eating unhealthy foods.

“We believe that through our solution and democratising access to affordable wearable technologies we will stimulate populations to engage in physical and subsequently other elements of healthy lifestyle such as healthy dietary intake,” Gwatidzo said.

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