New York:African leaders, health ministers, and international partners have called for enhanced cross-border collaboration and the responsible use of artificial intelligence to improve preparedness for infectious diseases that could lead to public health emergencies in Africa. This appeal was made during the Presidential Dialogue on High-Threat Pathogens held alongside the United Nations General Assembly. According to Qatar News Agency, the dialogue emphasized the need for stronger cross-border preparedness. Participants adopted the "New York Call to Action on Cross-Border Preparedness Intelligence in Africa," underscoring the growing recognition of this necessity. The World Health Organization's (WHO) Regional Office for Africa introduced the Preparedness Data Exchange (PDX) in March 2026. This platform aims to integrate preparedness and risk information to support early, evidence-based decision-making across the region. By incorporating AI-enabled capabilities, it assists health officials in identifying e merging risks and analyzing information to enhance preparedness. WHO stated that the model allows countries to maintain control over their data while facilitating the generation and sharing of information needed to bolster collective preparedness and response to health threats. WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Mohamed Janabi, expressed the organization's commitment to assisting Member States in implementing the "New York Call to Action" through national policies, sustained financing, and practical cross-border cooperation arrangements. Dr. Janabi highlighted the importance of developing continuous, connected, and ready preparedness systems in anticipation of future emergencies. WHO also noted that the initiative aims to improve information flow to help countries anticipate and respond to health threats, leveraging AI for early warning, analysis, and decision-making, without replacing national systems or health expertise.