The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : IT to help track Japanese encephalitis

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Oct 16, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

IT to help track Japanese encephalitis

By K. Venkateshwarlu

HYDERABAD, OCT. 15. It is said time is of essence in checking killer diseases. A unique pilot project to track and control Japanese encephalitis (JE) using a telephone and information technology back-up was launched in Kurnool on Friday.

By pressing a few numbers on the phone keypad, health workers in remote area would be able to give timely information facilitating prompt response to disease outbreak.

The pilot project is being executed by Voxiva Inc., a global provider of health information solutions, in partnership with the State Health Department, for the international Programme for Appropriate Technology on Health's (PATH) JE project.

The aim of the project is to track - and ultimately reduce - the incidence of JE through improved surveillance and response. Japanese encephalitis is a disabling and often fatal mosquito-spread disease which mostly strikes children under 15 years of age.

Single database

All reported information would be stored in a single database.

Health officials log into the system via web and they could use the system's analytic tools to evaluate trends, identify outbreaks, and immediately deploy appropriate resources. Officials having mobile phones get an alert through SMS.

"This solution will break new ground in public health in the country by providing district-level managers access to timely data," says Madhu Krishna, Country Manager, Voxiva India.

"This data will allow analysis of critical health information for rapid response and control of disease," he says.

"We are looking forward to seeing the Voxiva system put into effect. It should facilitate our work," Mastan Rao, Director of Health, says. Based on the progress, the system will be adopted for national use and for other diseases as well.

PATH's effort to reduce the incidence of JE has been made possible by the five-year $27 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

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