JUST before he could even complete his Mechatronics Engineering programme at the Copperbelt University (CBU), 25 year old Khondwani Nyirenda decided to put his lecturers’ notes into practice by inventing an Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered healthcare system designed to make patient monitoring in clinics and hospitals easier and more efficient.
In an interview with Kalemba, Nyirenda revealed that his innovation, called the Smart Human Health Monitoring System provides real time updates on vital signs such as heart rate and temperature of an individual.
It also uses AI to predict patient stress levels and sends alerts to caregivers through an app when abnormal readings are detected on their patient.
The young innovator stated that the system connects to a mobile app, enabling healthcare providers to receive alerts and track patients remotely, thereby allowing them to attend to other patients or stuff.

For hospitals and clinics with high nurse to patient ratios, this innovation could be a game changer.
“My system is designed to make life easier for healthcare workers by reducing their workload. It automatically monitors patients and alerts caregivers when something is wrong. This allows nurses and doctors to focus on other critical tasks,” said Nyirenda.
“The system is designed to support healthcare personnel by automating the monitoring of patients’ vital signs, such as heart rate and temperature. This reduces the workload for nurses and doctors, allowing them to focus on more critical tasks. By providing real time data and alerts when a patient’s vitals are abnormal, the system ensures timely interventions, improves patient outcomes and enhances efficiency in clinics and hospitals. It bridges the gap caused by staff shortages, especially in high patient volume settings and creates a safer, more responsive healthcare environment.”
He added that the system has the potential to improve healthcare services, especially in overcrowded clinics with limited staff.
“Most clinics and hospitals have a high nurse-to-patient ratio, and this can delay care. My system bridges that gap by ensuring patients are monitored continuously and any issues are flagged early,” he explained.
The idea for the system came to Khondwani Nyirenda during a visit to a clinic where he noticed the delays in collecting vital signs.

Determined to find a solution, he used the skills he gained at CBU to develop the innovation with the mentorship and guidance from his supervisor.
Despite facing financial challenges, the then CBU student worked tirelessly to build a prototype and carefully managed his resources and used cost effective components to make the system affordable for healthcare facilities, especially those in rural areas.
“I wanted the system to be accessible to clinics and hospitals that don’t have a lot of funding. It’s affordable, scalable and can be easily implemented even in remote settings,” he said.
He shared that the Smart Human Health Monitoring System has been tested in controlled environments and is now ready for pilot testing in clinics.
Khondwani believes the system will save lives by improving efficiency, reducing delays and ensuring timely medical interventions.

In addition to this innovation, Kondwani is working on other projects in AI and robotics, with plans to tackle challenges in agriculture, energy and education.
Born and raised in Zambia’s Chililabombwe Nyirenda shared that his father who is an electrician and also worked on mechanics and fabrications, greatly influenced his love for innovation.
He said he would constantly ask him questions and learn from his work, which sparked his interest in engineering.
“During secondary school, I was part of Junior Engineers, Technicians, and Scientists (JESTS) where I got hands on experience with problem solving and creativity. My love for making things naturally led me to choose engineering as a career,” he shared.
The 25 year old innovator attended Chililabombwe secondary school and is now based in Lusaka.
He encouraged young innovators to dream big and stay focused on solving real world problems.
“Be curious and persistent. Start small and keep going, even when it’s hard. Our country has many challenges, but those challenges are opportunities to create solutions,” he said.
Nyirenda also plans to engage stakeholders in the healthcare sector to expand the system’s reach and revealed that his goal is to make healthcare more accessible and efficient across Zambia and eventually Africa.
This innovation managed to earn him third place in the Digital Solutions category at the Tech Expo and made him attend a prestigious tech event in Ethiopia last year, which he said broadened his perspective on global innovation.
Khondwani Nyirenda wants to be remembered as an engineer who pushed boundaries and brought transformative solutions to Africa in AI, robotics and healthcare.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, January 22, 2025