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In northern Pakistan, the Hayat mobile application developed by the Aga Khan University helps field workers …

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CoronaCheck

CoronaCheck


Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, emergency response strategies worldwide have leveraged mobile technologies in various ways to contain the spread of the virus, curtail damage and ease the burden on healthcare systems working to simultaneously meet the medical needs of COVID-19 patients and provide essential healthcare services.


AKDN dHRC has contributed to the response efforts by developing and launching the CoronaCheck mobile app. This aims to curb COVID-19 infection rates and reduce footfall at the Aga Khan Development Network health facilities.


It is an Android-based mobile application, available on the Google Play Store. It consists of a self-assessment tool to help the general population safely screen themselves at home. To raise awareness among the masses and fight the COVID-19 “infodemic”, the app is equipped with educational videos.


The self-assessment tool is an interactive Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based survey. It enables users to determine their risk of acquiring the disease based on an intelligent analysis of their responses regarding their symptoms and medical history. A counseling preface then guides the user to either take appropriate physical distancing measures or to get tested. The location of the nearest testing centre and a list of national helplines is also provided. The educational videos are sourced from the World Health Organization (WHO) and focus on physical distancing measures, symptoms of the virus and how not to spread infection.


CoronaCheck was launched in April 2020 in Pakistan and received significant media coverage as the first of its kind digital self-screening application of the country. The launch was followed by implementation in Tanzania in May 2020, in Tajikistan in June 2020, in Kenya in August 2020 and in Mozambique in October 2020. The application, along with the self-assessment tool, is translated into local languages, i.e. Urdu for Pakistan, Swahili for East Africa and Tajik for Tajikistan, to help populations gain a comprehensive understanding of the virus and methods to lower their risk of infection from an authentic source. An audio feature is also included in the local languages to enhance accessibility and interaction.


CoronaCheck aims to strengthen existing health systems by addressing the need for rapid and early testing, screening and awareness raising during the pandemic. This leads to reduced number of visits to health facilities, thereby ensuring that critical resources such as testing kits and health workers’ time are allocated toward those most in need. Further plans are to launch the application in Afghanistan and Syria under the COVID-19 Innovation Research Project.


Hayat


Hayat is a mHealth innovation, which aims to empower frontline health workers with digital health technologies in efforts to increase coverage of and access to routine immunisation, maternal, new-born and child care (MNCH) and child growth services in Afghanistan and Pakistan.


Dhrc Purumeed Aghaaz

Purumeed Aghaaz


dHRC has developed an mHealth application, PurUmeed Aghaaz, to assess the effectiveness of coaching in improving nutrition and the use of supplements (such as folic acid, iron and Vitamin D) during pregnancy, compared to standard counselling. More


Umeed-E-Nau


In 2016, the Aga Khan University, Karachi, launched Umeed-e-Nau. This is a project aimed at improving maternal, child, and adolescent health in Pakistan. Umeed-e-Nau (meaning ‘new hope’ in Urdu), is a five-year research project, funded by a USD $25m grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The research aims to assess the various approaches, insights, and evidence around maternal, child and adolescent health care. More


Dhrc Meri Shifa

Meri Shifa


In collaboration with the Department of Medicine at the Aga Khan University, we designed and developed Meri Shifa (meaning ‘My Health’ in Urdu). The platform was conceived as a part of a pilot feasibility study funded by the George Institute for Global Health.


Sehatmandi


AKDN dHRC has developed Sehatmandi, a tablet-based application to digitise the previously manual assessment and monitoring process for select health facilities.


Sales and Service Outreach Application


In collaboration with the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, AKDN dHRC has designed and developed the Sales and Service Outreach mobile application. It enables sales staff to conveniently manage their workloads and report progress.


Rahbar – Improving Health Outcomes for Stroke Patients in Pakistan


The Rahbar application is the product of a successful pilot study, Movies4Stroke, carried out under Dr Ayeesha Kamal, through evidence-based research and clinical testing at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.


One Stop for Strokes


AKDN dHRC has partnered with the Aga Khan University (AKU) and Tech4Life Enterprises to develop a device for non-invasive diagnosis of stroke risks. Zahir Medic is a wearable leather glove that allows patients to check their blood pressure, ECG and glucose levels non-invasively.


Bolta Parcha


Bolta Parcha, meaning Talking Prescription, assesses the effectiveness of using mHealth tools and technologies to increase medication adherence and health literacy in patients with vascular diseases in Pakistan.


Movies4Stroke


AKDN dHRC and the Aga Khan University (AKU) Stroke Programme have collaborated to develop Movies4Stroke, a series of informative and educational movies for stroke patients and their caregivers.


Teeko app

Teeko


Teeko, meaning vaccination in the local language, provides real-time data on a vaccinator’s field movements through GPS tracking and on the number of children being immunised. Vaccinators can also check vaccine stock availability at their respective health facilities through the app.


Assessing the Effectiveness of Telepsychiatry Consultations


In Pakistan, we offer telepsychiatry services at our health centres in Chitral and Gilgit. Patients at these facilities benefit from live teleconsultations in psychiatry offered by specialists at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.


Assessing the Effectiveness of an eLearning Intervention


Building professional capacity of healthcare providers through eLearning sessions is a major objective of the AKDN Digital Health Programme. The French Medical Institute for Mothers and Children (FMIC) offers eLearning sessions to healthcare providers at Bamyan and Faizabad Provincial Hospitals and Mirwais Regional Hospital, Kandahar in Afghanistan and Khorog Oblast General Hospital in Tajikistan.


AKDN Delivery Tool


In an effort to standardise data collection of deliveries across Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) health facilities, we developed and implemented a standard electronic data collection tool, the AKDN Delivery Tool, after stakeholder consultation.


Application for JCI Accreditation


In order to streamline preparations at the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) in Karachi for the renewal of Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation that occurs every three years, AKDN dHRC developed and launched the AKUH – JCIA App. More


Nighedaasht app

Nighedaasht


Pakistan has the third highest burden of maternal, foetal and child mortality in the world. In 2018, AKDN dHRC, in collaboration with the Aga Khan Health Service, Pakistan (AKHS, P) developed and launched an mHealth app, Nighedaasht. This is used in remote, rural areas of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral, Pakistan in efforts to improve Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) outcomes.


Paigham-e-Sehat


Routine polio immunisation coverage for children in Pakistan stands at 59 percent, well below the recommended coverage of 90 percent. In 2017, the AKDN Digital Health Resource Centre helped develop the Paigham-e-Sehat application to support a research study undertaken by AKU.


Clinical Rounds


In collaboration with the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, we developed and implemented Clinical Rounds. This is a mobile application integrated with a web portal to help healthcare providers record their presence for various events, engagements and activities.