Nashik Launches AI Heart Screening For Children
Nashik district launches AI-powered heart screening campaign for early detection of heart disease in children. The campaign uses AI-based smart stethoscopes and will cover children in the 0-6 and 6-11 age groups.
In a significant initiative to detect heart ailments in children at an early stage, the Nashik district has launched a campaign utilising AI-based smart stethoscopes. The campaign, conceptualised by Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Omkar Pawar, aims to make Nashik district a model for the rest of the state.
The initiative is being implemented under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) and will cover children in the 0-6 age group, who are enrolled in Anganwadis, and the 6-11 age group, who are school students. To implement this initiative, 145 RBSK doctors, AYUSH medical officers, and paramedical staff underwent special training on the use of AI-based smart stethoscopes.
The training session, which was held on July 6 at the Zilla Parishad office, provided detailed guidance on device usage, digital registration, screening methods, troubleshooting technical issues, and the referral process. The AI-based smart stethoscope, known as AiSteth, has been developed by Bengaluru-based Ai Health Highway India Pvt. Ltd. and can detect congenital heart defects and other heart-related issues in children.
A total of 70 AI smart stethoscopes have been made available to the RBSK teams in the district, and screenings will be conducted in phases across Anganwadis and schools. If suspicious or abnormal heart sounds are detected during the screening, the concerned children will be referred to paediatricians and cardiologists at the district hospital.
The initiative is being implemented with the guidance, approval, and financial support of the Maharashtra State Innovation Society (MSInS), Mumbai. According to Omkar Pawar, Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Parishad, Nashik, the AI-based initiative will strengthen the process of timely detection and treatment of congenital heart diseases.
The project is taking shape under the guidance of CEO Omkar Pawar and the coordination of Chief Minister’s Fellow Vitthal Sonune. If successful, Nashik district will become the first district in the state to utilise AI technology in the field of child health. The campaign has the potential to benefit thousands of children in the district and make a significant impact on their health and well-being.
The use of AI technology in the field of child health is a significant step forward and can help detect heart ailments at an early stage, improving the chances of effective treatment and saving lives. The initiative is a testament to the district's commitment to providing quality healthcare to its citizens, particularly children, and can serve as a model for other districts in the state to follow.
