Uttar Pradesh’s healthcare related technology interventions for containing coronavirus

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Express Computer has been doing comprehensive coverage of how state Governments and smart cities are tackling the COVID-19 pandemic by using digital tools and other technologies. In today’s edition, we cover the state of Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh is one of the badly affected states in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Technology has been extensively used for managing the coronavirus scare.  

The state of Uttar Pradesh has designed a COVID-19 patient lifecycle portal. It covers the lifecycle of patient data from disease detection to discharge. The portal is accessed by the sampling laboratories, health officers, hospitals, and many other stakeholders, who enter their part of the data and update it on a realtime basis.

The state also has a helpline – 18001805145, attended by trained operators. The helpline is also doubled up as a teleconsultation facility. The empaneled doctors are available for people in distress. 

Technology has been used extensively in Information, Education and Communication (IEC) interventions. “In the form of content development for awareness and education of different stakeholders like health workers, panchayati raj institutions, police force, sanitisation related activities, etc. The content was distributed using various mediums like WhatsApp, electronic media, social media, etc.,” says Amit Mohan Prasad, Principal Secretary (Medical & Health), Uttar Pradesh, speaking exclusively to Express Computer. 

Secondly, the NIC’s video conferencing platform, and the Zoom application was also used widely for training state functionaries like doctors, paramedical staff, technicians, etc on the SOPs for collecting samples and treatment procedures.

For the private sector, training was conducted on the ways to adhere to infection prevention protocols, which involves treating patients in emergency care, in such a way that the caregiver doesn’t get infected.

The migrants returning back from other states is a grave issue and has to be tackled on an urgent basis. A jansunwai portal has been launched – http://jansunwai.up.nic.in/. The migrants stranded in other states can register themselves on the portal.

Thirdly, WhatsApp was widely used for aggregating information about the migrant workers returning back home from other states. “This exercise was conducted by the Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers. A community surveillance was conducted by ASHA workers by going door-to-door and visiting the migrant workers to check their health vitals. The data was posted, using WhatsApp, to the Block Community Process Manager (BCPM). He in turn keyed in this information onto a central portal. The sampling process was done according to the people getting reported with the symptoms,” says Prasad.        

According to an Indian Express report, at a press briefing, Additional Chief Secretary Awanish Kumar Awasthi said 97 trains carrying migrant workers from various states had arrived, and 17 more were on the way. “Over 1.2 lakh migrant workers will return to the state by tonight (by May 9),” he said.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is helping the state in terms of technology assistance.

UP has also launched an epass facility for the citizens intending to enter or exit the state. An application can be made on http://164.100.68.164/upepass2/Apply.aspx.

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