Operation ASHA has married World Health Organization’s standard treatment model for TB, called DOTS (Directly Observed Therapy – Short Course) with technology and a community-based approach, which has achieved unprecedented results. These have eluded rest of the world NGOs for a very long time.
“Operation ASHA’s methodology succeeds because of amelioration of all problems: personal, social, economic, health and medical, faced by patients, their families and communities. Only such a 360° methodology can be successful in eradicating TB”
Professor Ravi Anupindi, University of Michigan, Ross School of Business
There is no expert in the world who does not agree that our model is revolutionary and will succeed in eradicating TB, though many of them oppose it because of personal reasons and vested interests, calling it high cost any many other things, without citing one evidence or engaging with us in intelligent dialogue.
In implementation, Operation ASHA’s model is very simple. Its community health workers take delivery of treatment to the doorsteps of the poor. They look for symptomatics (persons showing symptoms) within their communities, collect samples, transport them to labs and communicate results. For those who have positive result, or persistent symptoms, they ensure other tests like X-ray/ CBNAAT/ FNAC and clinical examination till the person is proved free of TB or prescribed treatment. eDetection Application helps them complete all steps of the long and tedious diagnostic process.
Some of our workers are previously treated TB patients.
At every step, our mHealth Applications help them manoeuvre all steps of the long and tedious diagnostic, counselling and treatment process, no step can be left out, nothing can be done wrongly, and every little data point is captured through GPS and biometric tracking.
The moment a patient is diagnosed, the worker provides counselling to the patient and family with the eCounselling Application. Then, adherence is ensured with the eCompliance application.
Operation ASHA has applied its expertise to other health areas and beyond. Examples are the Adolescent Health Empowerment Program, Haemophilia, Diabetes, Motorcycle Ambulance Service and Adolescent Health Yuva Nestham Program.