Data-driven Diagnosis

Through early intervention, seamless referrals, and coordinated approach, the Digital School Health Programme in Dadra and Nagar Haveli is revolutionising child healthcare

- ANIL SWARUP

Health-related data is critical for a healthy existence. The evolution of technology has made this task easier. In this context, the initiative taken in Dadra and Nagar Haveli to capture health screening data from the last two academic years through the use of technology is a commendable one. This is being accomplished through the Digital School Health Programme.

The Digital School Health Programme is designed to streamline health services, providing an integrated platform for healthcare professionals, including field-level functionaries and officials of the Education Department and Women & Child Development Department, to manage their responsibilities more efficiently. With its user-friendly interface and integration with other national health programmes, it has significantly improved child healthcare management, the referral system, and follow-up. This initiative fosters a data-driven, proactive healthcare model that empowers educators, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to customise national programmes based on priority.

Health records in manual form posed many challenges. Such records were not maintained properly; the data collected was inaccurate, insufficient, and was never linked with the HMIS. The exercise of entering data was repeated in new manual forms, with no relation to the previous year's data. Referrals and follow-ups remained incomplete. The data captured by the Health Department was rarely shared with the Education Department, WCD, or even parents. The parents of schoolchildren were never involved in the entire process. Sharing the data with national portals used to be difficult, and there wasn't any support in making policy interventions.