Bengaluru
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has taken a proactive step towards curbing the spread of infectious diseases within the city by leveraging an artificial intelligence surveillance app. This innovative app, resembling the functionality of the Arogya Setu app used during the Covid-19 pandemic, is aimed at preventing epidemics by enhancing disease surveillance and management. Exclusively accessible to BBMP health officials, public and private hospital staff, as well as lab personnel, the app serves as a comprehensive tool to consolidate infectious disease data from all wards under the BBMP jurisdiction. The initial focus will be on monitoring and controlling dengue cases. A crucial aspect of the app is its integration with data gathered from house surveys conducted by Asha health workers in all wards. If potential breeding grounds for disease vectors, such as stagnant water, are identified, workers will document the findings using the app. BBMP staff will then promptly visit the location, applying larvicidal treatments and eliminating mosquito breeding sites. Visual evidence of these actions will be captured and uploaded to the app. Subsequently, officials will verify the interventions and submit their reports through the platform, ensuring transparency and accountability at each stage. The surveillance app also facilitates fever surveys, where blood samples of individuals with fever symptoms are collected and sent to nearby private or public hospitals. The corresponding lab staff will be responsible for uploading the diagnostic results to the app. By compiling data from both government and private healthcare facilities, the app will provide a holistic view of patients diagnosed with infectious diseases, aiding in effective treatment and containment efforts. In the pursuit of safeguarding public health, BBMP’s adoption of this AI-powered surveillance app exemplifies a proactive and technology-driven approach to disease prevention and control.
