Center for
Global Health

International Scholar

Languages: English, Setswana

BIO STATEMENT

Dr. Onalenna Junior Makhura is a Researcher in Data Science at the Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI), with a background in computer engineering, artificial intelligence, computer vision, cybersecurity, and software development. He holds a PhD in Computing and Electronic Systems from the University of Essex and an MEng in Computer Engineering from the University of Southampton.
His interest in global health lies at the intersection of digital transformation, artificial intelligence, data science, and health systems. He is particularly interested in how emerging technologies and data-driven approaches can strengthen health information systems, improve access to quality healthcare, support clinical and public-health decision-making, and enable more efficient and equitable delivery of health services, particularly in resource-constrained settings.
His current research and technical activities involve the design and development of data-intensive and AI-enabled systems, including work relevant to healthcare imaging, digital health infrastructure, interoperability, and secure information management. Through this work, he is interested in exploring how technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, interoperable health information systems, and secure digital platforms can contribute to addressing global health challenges.
His broader goal is to contribute to the development of locally appropriate, scalable, and sustainable digital health solutions, particularly within African health systems, while supporting collaboration between researchers, technologists, healthcare professionals, governments, and other stakeholders. He sees global health as an inherently interdisciplinary field in which advances in computing and data science can play an important role in improving health outcomes and strengthening health systems. Dr. Makhura is also an alumnus of the Center for Global Health Fellowship program. 

Recent Global Health Projects

Dr. Makhura is involved in the development of a digital radiology and Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) that supports the management, storage, interoperability, and viewing of medical imaging data. The project incorporates DICOM and DICOMweb technologies and explores interoperability with standards such as HL7 and FHIR to support integration with broader health information systems.
A key component of the project is the development of a curated chest X-ray dataset to support artificial intelligence research for the detection of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The dataset will be used to develop and train AI models capable of identifying radiographic features associated with pulmonary TB, with the broader goal of supporting earlier detection and improving access to diagnostic services. The project brings together medical imaging, data science, artificial intelligence, and digital health infrastructure, with a particular focus on developing scalable solutions that can contribute to strengthening healthcare delivery in resource-constrained settings.

Last Updated: 25 August 2026