Key Takeaways
- Tuberculosis remains a major health problem in the Central African Republic, with an estimated 540 people per 100,000 infected each year (around 29,000 people annually), according to the WHO.
- In Batangafo, 203 new TB cases were recorded in 2025, despite the area’s distance from the capital’s infrastructure.
MSF introduced CAD4TB, an AI-powered digital tool, at Batangafo District Hospital in 2024 to help detect pulmonary TB in people over 15 using chest X-ray analysis. - The AI flags suspicious cases (a score above 40) for confirmatory testing, but final diagnosis and treatment decisions remain with the doctor.
In 2025, CAD4TB helped detect TB in 90 of the 203 identified cases in Batangafo, showing that advanced AI diagnostic tools can be successfully deployed even in rural, resource-limited settings.
AI Tuberculosis Screening in the Central African Republic: A Persistent Health Challenge
In the Central African Republic, tuberculosis (TB) remains a major health problem, according to the Ministry of Health and Population (1). An estimated 540 people out of 100,000 are infected with TB each year in CAR, according to the World Health Organisation—a total of approximately 29,000 people annually (2).
People in Batangafo in the north of the country, far from the infrastructure and services of the capital, Bangui, are not spared: 203 people were recorded as new cases in 2025.
What is pulmonary tuberculosis?
Pulmonary TB, the most common form of TB, is an infection of the lungs caused by a bacterium transmitted through the air. Biological confirmation is based on sputum analysis and remains complex.
Introducing CAD4TB: an AI-powered diagnostic aid
To address this and support medical teams in diagnosing this disease—following interest expressed by the Ministry of Health and Population, and in collaboration with it—MSF decided to equip Batangafo District Hospital with a new device in 2024: the CAD4TB.
CAD4TB (Computer-Aided Detection for Tuberculosis) is a digital device that uses AI to detect pulmonary TB in individuals over the age of 15. It is used when the doctor observes clinical signs that raise suspicion, such as weight loss, night sweats or fever.
How the AI analyses X-Rays
“We then take an X-ray, which is subsequently processed by this digital tool. Based on comparisons with a very large number of other X-rays, the AI analyses the presence of cavities, pulmonary opacities, and pleural effusions characteristic of this disease.” Clément Daka, a nurse and radiology technician who has received comprehensive training, enabling him to perform X-rays and use CAD4TB, explains the process.
From AI score to diagnosis: the Doctor has the final say
When CAD4TB yields a score above 40, the level of suspicion is high, and the patient is referred for a confirmatory test.
“This analysis, while very effective, remains a diagnostic aid and does not replace it: the doctor has the final say in every situation.”Dr Mouemba Dave King, head of medical operations at the hospital, emphasises the AI’s role as a support tool rather than a replacement for clinical judgment.
Supporting less experienced clinicians
However, in some cases, CAD4TB can also support doctors who may not have much experience interpreting X-rays. Dr King describes the practical impact on patient care and treatment:
“This innovation is a great help to us because it allows us, in less than 30 minutes, to cross-check the doctor’s diagnosis and take action by isolating the patient to prevent them from infecting those around them. When TB is confirmed, we administer a treatment combining four antibiotics. This treatment lasts six months. But after the initial two months, we perform a sputum test to see if TB bacilli are present in the sample. If the disease persists, we conduct a more comprehensive analysis.”
Results in Batangafo: AI Diagnostics reaching rural communities
In Batangafo in 2025, this device helped detect TB in 90 of the 203 people identified as having the disease.
This initiative, implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health, demonstrates that state-of-the-art devices using AI can be installed and put to good use even in rural areas. With diagnosis, an essential step in treating affected patients and preventing the spread of the disease, this is an important development for the people of Batangafo.
