Public health services NPO partners with a digital technology firm for innovative solutions
TO THE NEW (TTN ), a digital technology company announced that it is working with The Antara Foundation (TAF), a Delhi-based non-profit organization focused on delivering innovative public health solutions at scale.
TAF runs multiple programs focused on improving maternal and child health & nutrition. TAF was started by Ashok Alexander, who previously headed the India operations of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). While at BMGF, Ashok led Avahan, the world's largest HIV prevention program.
TAF works with three Government frontline workers - Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), Anganwadi workers (AWWs) and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) – who are jointly responsible for delivery of health and nutrition services in India’s villages. By enabling the three to work together through a common platform (AAA), a culture of improved data collection, usage, and sharing is being established.
TTN has helped TAF develop a tablet/ smartphone application enabling frontline workers to share data in real-time. This product enables improved identification and service of beneficiaries (pregnant women, lactating mothers, children) particularly to those at high-risk. TAF’s in-depth field experience and functional knowledge combined with TTN’s state-of-the-art technology have been instrumental in creating this first-of-its-kind product.
This unique solution enables the AAA to collaborate, work with a common database, maintain the integrity of data and serve beneficiaries more effectively. Workers can focus on their primary responsibility of delivering care, aided by data. The app also generates essential government reports, provides an online supervision dashboard and enables referrals. It has been field-tested in close collaboration with the Government system to ensure the scalability and sustainability of solutions.
The app has several applications. For instance, in several states, identification of malnourished children requires inputs from multiple workers who don’t always talk to each other. Through this solution, inputs are logged separately by different workers and the app yields a combined picture.
Commenting on the same, Deepak Mittal, CEO, TO THE NEW said, ❝With real-time data sharing, the frontline workers are now able to deliver better, targeted services. It may be thought of like a 4 in 1 solution – individual apps aiding service delivery and data management for each worker, with technology enabling the three apps to talk to each other. Care has been devoted to ensuring front-end simplicity for easy use in the rural context. We are delighted that our technology is aiding public health delivery at the last mile.❞
❝The integrated AAA app is a game changer – frontline workers can work off the same database, share data, serve beneficiaries more effectively, generate reports easily and more. The voice input recognition capability and user- friendly UI designs are useful features considering that most frontline workers have little to no exposure to technology solutions. The application functions effectively even in poor network conditions prevalent in rural regions.❞ says Piyush Mehra, CEO, The Antara Foundation.
