The inequitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines has been the subject of much discussion over the past year, and the situation is only a little better for childhood immunisations, even pre-pandemic. In 2014, a student at the Yale Center for Engineering Innovation and Design, attended a course titled: Appropriate Technology for the Developing World, aimed at addressing the immunisation gap. The student, Ruchit Nagar, set out to create a digital vaccine record using Near Field Communication tags, which could be viewed and updated by simply scanning the tag with a compatible Android device. Soon, the technology was being used in rural parts of the state of Rajasthan (India), for mother-and-child health programs, under the name Khushi Baby, which went on to also be known as Khushi Health - or, to translate literally, Happy Health!
Fast forward to June 2021, when the Khushi Health team were awarded joint 3rd prize by The Trinity Challenge. Their solution has developed over time, and in its current form, has digitally supported and empowered Community Health Workers (CHWs) - and indirectly the state government - to serve high-risk citizens during the current pandemic. The CHWs are known as 'Ashas', which means 'hope', and that is exactly what they are bringing to underserved communities in rural parts of India's largest state.
Join Ruchit Nagar (Founder) and Saachi Dalal (CSO) as they talk to moderator James Dray (Brunswick Group), about vaccines, digital platforms and dashboards, Google AI, and communities helping the Ashas get tech savvy.
Keywords: AI, Big Data, Data Accountability, Rajasthan, India, CHWs, Khushi Baby, Khushi Health.
