Photo Courtesy: nenews
Itanagar: Health officials in Arunachal Pradesh launched an AI-driven tool to monitor newborn development in the East Siang district. The state Health and Family Welfare Department teamed up with Wadhwani AI and the local District Health Society to deploy the Shishu Mapan application. This software helps frontline workers track babies up to 42 days old.
Staff held three days of training between September 29 and October 1 for workers in the Ruksin, Pasighat, and Mebo blocks. This initiative reached 108 ASHAs and 15 ASHA facilitators. Officials including the District RCH Officer, District ASHA Nodal Officer, and various community mobilizers also attended. Workers learned to capture 15 to 20-second videos that measure weight, height, head size, chest size, and mid-upper arm circumference.
The system replaces old paperwork. ASHAs now log home visits electronically to improve data accuracy and simplify oversight for managers. Wadhwani AI previously tested the tool across Namsai, Papum Pare, East Siang, West Siang, and Changlang to ensure it fit local conditions. The project is now scaling up in East and West Siang to "assess its usability, accuracy, feasibility and acceptance at the field level."
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