We believe that equipping frontline workers with digital skills is at the heart of improved coverage, efficient delivery and quality of services. This assumes greater significance as these frontline workers, such as Auxiliary Nurses and Midwives (ANMs), are the direct points of contact with the local communities.
This transformation is there to see in Bihar where we are leveraging digital technologies to equip 18,365 ANMs across 38 districts – for effective delivery of child and maternal health services. We support ANMs in overcoming digital hurdles and train them to use new technologies such as the ANMOL mobile application, with ease. We have conducted comprehensive training, adoption, and governance strategies; designed modules on smartphone literacy and data quality in ANMOL and developed a cadre of 1000+ Master Trainers.
Manoj Kumar, Block Health Manager, Banka District, Bihar observes the impact of these efforts:
“The government came up with a game-changing ANMOL app but barely 33% of the ANMs knew how to use it. Now with the newfound digital skills provided by Piramal Foundation to all ANMs, they can effectively serve more beneficiaries. ANMOL adoption has gone up from 9% to 80%.”
It gives us immense joy to share that the number of pregnant women registered by ANMs to the ANMOL app has increased from 40% to 91% and the share of registered infants has gone up from 42% to 87%.
Beyond numbers, our capacity-building has given ANMs a sense of hope to learn more, and the confidence to catalyze change. It has given them wings to soar in their journey as impact agents.
Mundrika Kumari, ANM, Banka district, Bihar, speaks of her empowerment journey:
“Earlier we faced many difficulties and had to carry cumbersome registers for field visits. Even though apps like ANMOL were introduced, it was difficult to learn the new mobile technology. But with the help of Piramal’s training, I can now use the app confidently. I am able to take better care of mothers and children in the area”
Our efforts in Bihar are ongoing – monitoring key indicators of adoption and data quality, monthly cadence at state level and daily reporting through a live dashboard. Now, 13,115 out of 19,097 ANMs are uploading data effortlessly. Through digital capacity building, the once-daunting app has become a tool for revolutionary change.