Beyond2020, the flagship initiative launched by the Zayed Sustainability Prize, has announced the deployment of AI-powered mammography services across Costa Rica.
These services will support the early detection and treatment of breast cancer for women living in underprivileged communities, it was shared.
Indeed, in 2022, Costa Rica reported 1,344 new breast cancer cases and 423 breast cancer deaths, and studies find that women from disadvantaged communities have lower rates of breast cancer detection, treatment, and survival compared to women from more affluent areas.
Eight thousand tests will be conducted annually using the AI-based mammography services, which have been deployed in Juan Pablo II Medical Centre in Cartago. There are also plans to deploy these services in additional health facilities in the future.
A mobile unit, which is owned and operated by CENRAD, has also been deployed to reach underserved areas across Costa Rica where access to healthcare may be limited. The mobile unit has reached 840 women across 13 locations since January.
The Beyond2020 deployment in Costa Rica was carried out by the 2022 Zayed Sustainability Prize winner Mamotest.
Mamotest is an Argentina-based health-tech SME and Latin America’s first tele-mammography network. It has provided low-cost healthcare to more than 750,000 patients and promoted awareness for millions in the region.
H.E. Rawdha Alotaiba, Ambassador, UAE Embassy in Costa Rica, said: This project will enhance the prosperity and well-being of 8,000 women annually in Costa Rica, particularly women in remote and underprivileged communities. As we extend the UAE’s humanitarian efforts worldwide, we are dedicated to carrying forward Sheikh Zayed’s humanitarian legacy while supporting collective action to improve lives.”
“We strive to overcome hurdles with innovation, perseverance, and a deep sense of purpose, ensuring that every woman receives the timely and accurate care she deserves. Our platform ensures 100 percent traceability of patients and provides continuous follow-up until they receive treatment. By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, Mamotest detects anomalies often overlooked by human observation, significantly improving early-stage detection,” shared Guillermo Pepe, CEO of Mamotest.
After winning the Zayed Sustainability Prize in 2022, Mamotest expanded operations of its state-of-the-art diagnostic centres beyond Argentina to Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil and Spain. Now, it works with existing labs to provide high-quality mammograms at low cost, enabling women to overcome geographical, technological, and economic barriers to access healthcare.
Dr. Lamya Fawwaz, Director of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, commented: “Accessible and affordable mammograms have the potential to significantly enhance women’s quality of life. Beyond2020 and its partners are glad to play a part in making Costa Rica more responsive to the health needs of its citizens, particularly women. The deployment also builds community awareness on the power of preventative healthcare to empower individuals, promote early detection, and ultimately save lives, fostering a healthier and more resilient society.”
Beyond2020 brings together a leading number of partners, which include the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, BNP Paribas, Mubadala Energy and Masdar.