Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, the UAE's minister of state for Artificial Intelligence, says technology can be used to improve detection rates for tuberculosis.
Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, the UAE's minister of state for Artificial Intelligence, says technology can be used to improve detection rates for tuberculosis.

Artificial intelligence to be used in 'urgent' fight against tuberculosis, says UAE minister



Artificial intelligence will be a key weapon in the "urgent" fight against the global threat of tuberculosis, UAE minister said.

The deadly disease claims the lives of more than two million people across the world every year and the UAE already conducts rigorous health screenings for newcomers to the country to help prevent its spread.

TB is a contagious infection that attacks the lungs, and affects about 10 million people worldwide.

Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, the UAE's Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, said the government is working "tirelessly" to diagnose TB more efficiently.

Speaking on the first day of the UN World Data Forum in Dubai, Mr Al Olama said the disease remains a "great challenge".

He said AI technology can be used to help combat many conditions.

"It [TB] represents a great challenge we must face, as we urgently need to treat the disease and employ technology to do that."

He said AI can be used to used to simplify the process of monitoring and diagnosing tuberculosis.

"In the office of the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence, we work tirelessly to formulate solutions based on the algorithms that can be harnessed to monitor TB and diagnose it using chest X-ray examinations. These solutions enable us to identify the disease by uploading the patient's X-ray in the system, which in turn will specify the possibility of tuberculosis in the patient."

He pointed out that TB can be prevented and even treated, so no excuses can be made in tackling the disease.

He said the biggest challenge remains a lack of awareness about TB and its dangers.

Mr Al Olama said new technology will allow healthcare teams to go to an area where TB is thought to have spread and use tools supported by AI to perform group examinations.

The X-rays are then placed in the diagnostic system, which specifies whether or not the patient has contracted the disease.

He said that the new system offers several advantages, the most important of which is allowing the targeting of specified geographic areas where tuberculosis is prevalent. This means the doctor does not need to be present, contributing greatly to limiting the costs.

TB is the world's biggest infectious killer and is the ninth-leading cause of death across the globe, according to the World Health Organisation.

While rates of the disease are low in the UAE — about one in 100,000 people — authorities are trying to rid the country of TB.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention launched a three-month campaign in September to raise awareness about how TB is transmitted, prevented and how to effectively treat it.

Mr Al Olama said the world must come together and share medical advancements and techniques to beat TB.

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Read more:

Tuberculosis danger: ministry launches awareness campaign about deadly disease

UAE Cabinet decision clarifies rules on tuberculosis deportation

Threat of deportation 'increases spread of TB'

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Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
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Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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Day 1, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance

Moment of the day Dimuth Karunaratne had batted with plenty of pluck, and no little skill, in getting to within seven runs of a first-day century. Then, while he ran what he thought was a comfortable single to mid-on, his batting partner Dinesh Chandimal opted to stay at home. The opener was run out by the length of the pitch.

Stat of the day - 1 One six was hit on Day 1. The boundary was only breached 18 times in total over the course of the 90 overs. When it did arrive, the lone six was a thing of beauty, as Niroshan Dickwella effortlessly clipped Mohammed Amir over the square-leg boundary.

The verdict Three wickets down at lunch, on a featherbed wicket having won the toss, and Sri Lanka’s fragile confidence must have been waning. Then Karunaratne and Chandimal's alliance of precisely 100 gave them a foothold in the match. Dickwella’s free-spirited strokeplay meant the Sri Lankans were handily placed at 227 for four at the close.

ABU DHABI T10: DAY TWO

Bangla Tigers v Deccan Gladiators (3.30pm)

Delhi Bulls v Karnataka Tuskers (5.45pm)

Northern Warriors v Qalandars (8.00pm)

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

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RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile

Started: 2016

Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel 

Based: Ramallah, Palestine

Sector: Technology, Security

# of staff: 13

Investment: $745,000

Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors

RESULTS

6pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 1 (PA) $55,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
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6.35pm: Oud Metha Stakes – Rated Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,200m
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7.10pm: Jumeirah Classic – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Turf) 1,600m
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7.45pm: Firebreak Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Hypothetical, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer

8.20pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 2 (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Hot Rod Charlie, William Buick, Doug O’Neill

8.55pm: Al Bastakiya Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Withering, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass

9.30pm: Balanchine – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
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Engine: 6.2-litre V8

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Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

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What is a credit score?

In the UAE your credit score is a number generated by the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB), which represents your credit worthiness – in other words, your risk of defaulting on any debt repayments. In this country, the number is between 300 and 900. A low score indicates a higher risk of default, while a high score indicates you are a lower risk.

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By paying your bills on time and not missing any repayments, particularly your loan, credit card and mortgage payments. It is also wise to limit the number of credit card and loan applications you make and to reduce your outstanding balances.

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By checking it. Visit one of AECB’s Customer Happiness Centres with an original and valid Emirates ID, passport copy and valid email address. Liv. customers can also access the score directly from the banking app.

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A credit report costs Dh100 while a report with the score included costs Dh150. Those only wanting the credit score pay Dh60. VAT is payable on top.

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• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.

• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.

• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.

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• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases -  but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.

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Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
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