Innovations in health education through artificial intelligence: Strengthening school and community capacity for disease prevention

The growing intersection between technology, education, and public health has opened new pathways for addressing health challenges in contemporary societies. Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers innovative solutions that can enhance health literacy, improve disease prevention strategies, and support effective health education delivery in schools and communities. This paper explores the role of AI in transforming health education in Nigeria and its implications for sustainable health development. This paper explored the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in strengthening school and community health education in Nigeria. It highlights how AI can bridge the persistent gaps in disease prevention, health literacy, and participatory learning through data-driven instruction, predictive analytics, and interactive pedagogy. Despite Nigeria’s continued struggle with communicable and non-communicable diseases, poor sanitation, and weak preventive health structures, AI presents innovative solutions that can enhance both teaching and learning outcomes. The paper explored the current weaknesses in Nigeria’s health education system, such as inadequate infrastructure, limited teacher capacity, and outdated instructional methods. It further examines how AI technologies such as intelligent tutoring systems, virtual simulations, and mobile health applications can personalise health learning, improve disease surveillance, and facilitate behavioural change at both school and community levels. However, challenges including low digital literacy, infrastructural deficits, ethical concerns, and unequal access remain barriers to full implementation. The authors recommended the need to developing a national policy framework on AI in education and health, investing in digital infrastructure, strengthening teacher training, encouraging public–private partnerships, and promoting inclusive, community-based AI initiatives. Ultimately, integrating AI into Nigeria’s health education system aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 3 and 4) by fostering health promotion, quality education, and sustainable community well-being.