By Phesheya Ian Kunene
MANZINI – Eswatini medics have been armed with AI-powered tools to fight diabetes-related blindness, thanks to a high-level training by Taiwan experts in Manzini.
The Taiwan Technical Mission concluded a four-day intensive workshop on July 10 at the George Hotel in Manzini, empowering local health professionals with skills in artificial intelligence-assisted fundoscopy.
The workshop, which ran from July 7 to 10, forms part of the TaiwanICDF’s Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Project under the broader “Smart Healthcare and Health Industry” cooperation between Taiwan and Eswatini.
Twenty clinical personnel drawn from both central government and regional health facilities were trained in the use of advanced diagnostic equipment and reviewed a comprehensive AI-assisted training package. The goal was to build a team of seed instructors who will introduce and operationalize the equipment in six secondary and tertiary hospitals across Eswatini.
In a significant boost to the local rollout, the Taiwan Technical Mission in Eswatini also officially handed over the diagnostic tools to the Ministry of Health during the workshop.
These tools, developed by Taiwanese manufacturers, are AI-driven, portable fundus examination devices that do not require internet connectivity, making them ideal for immediate diagnosis, especially in remote or underserved areas.
“This initiative not only empowers Eswatini’s healthcare system but also reflects the deep friendship and long-term commitment between our two nations,” said a TaiwanICDF official during the closing ceremony.
The training is a proactive response to Eswatini’s growing burden of non-communicable diseases, particularly diabetes. Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini has previously declared the need to prioritise NCDs as a national emergency. Health data indicates that over 100 000 Emaswati are living with diabetes, many of whom risk complications such as diabetic retinopathy, which can lead to permanent vision loss or even blindness if not diagnosed early.
Earlier this year, six local clinicians were selected for an international training programme at National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch. There, they studied advanced methods in diabetes and hypertension care, and gained firsthand experience in using the AI diagnostic equipment. These professionals now form the core group leading the national roll-out of the technology.
In a gesture of goodwill and support, Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Chia-Lung Lin, visited Eswatini in April 2025 and presented six full sets of the AI diagnostic tools to the Ministry of Health, reinforcing Taiwan’s commitment to improving healthcare accessibility in the Kingdom.
The TaiwanICDF has pledged continued collaboration with Eswatini’s Ministry of Health to strengthen chronic disease prevention and control systems. With technology and training now in local hands, the stage is set for smarter, faster, and more accessible healthcare delivery, especially in the fight against diabetic eye disease.
As Eswatini moves forward with this life-changing initiative, the partnership with Taiwan shines as a model of how technology, knowledge-sharing, and international cooperation can work hand in hand to safeguard public health and build a brighter, healthier future.
