The SAMRC/WITS/MINTEK Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence for Occupational Health in the Mining Sector (DHAIOH Unit) is a flagship Extramural Research Unit and interdisciplinary collaboration dedicated to transforming worker health and safety in the mining industry through cutting-edge, data-driven innovation. Co-led by Professor Lindiwe Zungu and Dr James Aluha, the Unit brings together expertise in public health, occupational health sciences, engineering, and data science to develop and deploy digital health technologies, artificial intelligence, and advanced surveillance systems.
Positioned at the intersection of digital innovation, health systems strengthening, and policy transformation, the Unit aims to enhance the prevention, early detection, and management of occupational diseases, while generating high-impact, policy-relevant evidence to inform industry practice and regulatory frameworks. Through strategic partnerships with academia, government, and industry, the DHAIOH Unit seeks to drive sustainable improvements in worker health and position South Africa as a global leader in digital occupational health innovation.
The Unit’s research agenda responds to the persistent burden of occupational morbidity and mortality in the mining sector by reimagining occupational health through integrated, technology-enabled solutions. Its work is anchored in five interconnected thematic areas:
- Digital Health for Proactive Occupational Risk Management
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Predictive Analytics
- Gender-Responsive Occupational Health Interventions
- Policy and Regulatory Innovation
- Capacity Building and Knowledge Translation
Strategic Alignment with SAMRC
The DHAIOH Unit is closely aligned with the SAMRC’s strategic vision of driving innovative health research to improve population health and save lives. By leveraging digital health, artificial intelligence, and policy-relevant research, the Unit directly advances worker health in the mining sector while also addressing broader health outcomes within mining communities, contributing to impactful, solution-driven research that strengthens health systems and informs policy.
