We successfully completed the first cohort training of ASHA workers through #APSI's #outreach program, 'Samartha tarabeti' on Jan 28. Training 150 nominated ASHA workers from across two zones in #Bangalore, this program was organized with partners National Centre for Biological Sciences |Tata Institute for Genetics and Society, India with BeST - Bengaluru Science and Technology Cluster as outreach partner under the The Rockefeller Foundation -APSI-India #Bangalore outreach, with support of ground partners Molecular Solutions Care Health, Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Precision Health Platform and Department of Health and Family Welfare Services - Govt. of Karnataka
Our program module offered rigorous training on concepts ranging from innovative health surveillance technologies, reporting, vector entomology and creative educational games. Most of learning was also offered through curated interactive and engaging hands-on exhibits, put together by Insectary team, TIGS led by Dr. Sunita Swain PhD and her team, Dr. Mansi Malik,Ph.D team and VITM team.
Dr. Rakesh Mishra, Director, TIGS welcomed the ASHAs team, instilling enthusiasm, empowering them as the core pillars of a successful public health network, & opening the doors of campus research and outcomes to them. Dr. Sufia Sadaf (Ph.D.), with Sai Disha K set the context at the beginning of the program, delving on the importance of capacity building, #SamarthaTarabeti and led the various educational activities, with the support of volunteers at the end. Dr. Mansi Malik,Ph.D gave a detailed talk on Innovative technologies for Clinical and vector surveillance, keeping the teams engaged and at the edge of their seats, brimming with curiosity! Prof. LS SHASHIDHARA joined in during the program, & welcomed the stellar team, emphasizing the role & relevance of the training program. We had an amazing team of volunteers helping throughout, translating and explaining the science in Kannada, making the program a huge success!
All along, the learning environment was kept open, interactive, in detailed yet easy language, making it an impactful outreach endeavor.
We thank Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for nominating the ASHAs and offering their full support, @BeST teams Dr. Sreeparna Samanta Dr. Suresh Kumar Mendem for facilitating BBMP permits and nominations, standing with us at all steps as our partners, Mr. @Hemaraj from @VITM with his team volunteers for their science panels, as part of the 'Vaccine-Injecting hope' Jyoti Mehra| Sajoo Bhaskaran & BLiSC team volunteers: Dr. Darshan Narayan, Apoorva Shrivatsa, Sai Disha K, Samruddhi Walaskar, Priyadarshini Mohapatra, PRAJAKTA JATHAR, Priyanka B. @Antony S @Ritika Majji @Rangappa @Yesu Raja, ground staff, hospitality, lab support, & teams to facilitate transport & smooth functioning of the program.
Program Schedule
1st workshop: January 28, 2025 at NCBS Campus, 2:30PM - 5PM
Samartha tarabeti - ASHA workers capacity building workshop
2:30PM to 3:30PM – Inauguration Ceremony and Special Lectures (Dasheri, SLC ground floor)
– Welcome address, capacity-building and long-term impact – Prof LS Shashidhara, Director, NCBS
– Introduction to the Samartha tarabeti – ASHA workers capacity-building workshop: Dr. Sufia Sadaf & Sai Disha K
– Pathogens, diseases and surveillance (WWS and vector): Dr. Varsha Sridhar, Director & Co-founder, MSCH
Rising Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), surveillance and community roles in reducing/mitigating AMR:
– Dr. Mansi Malik, Scientist, TIGS
– Grass-root involvement and impactful contributions for ASHA work: BBMP Health officer/ NVBDCP
– Use of Artificial Intelligence and apps for disease-reporting, hotspots, data-entry and dashboard, real-time demo for data entry: Dr. Bhaskar Rajakumar, ARTPARK and team
– Films on public health surveillance, vector monitoring and ground-workers contribution – Dr. Sufia Sadaf
3:30PM to 4:15PM – Exhibits Sessions (SLC 1st floor)
– Hands-on demonstration and identification of mosquito, larvae, ovitrap building and activities led by TIGS, MSCH
– Exhibit: Regulated use of antimicrobials, AMR surveillance and interactive games – NCBS
– Modes for disease monitoring, fever reporting, dengue information integration – ARTPARK AI
4:15PM to 5PM – Team Activities for Outreach Education (Dasheri)
Led by Dr. Sufia Sadaf, with Dr. Vaishnavi Sridhar, Sai Disha K and Apoorva Srivatsa
– Breakout teams, group activities, quiz and learning games: Interactive team building focused on vector-borne disease surveillance, hotspot-identification, fever reporting, dengue prevention strategies.
– Superheroes empowered! Activities for AMR education
– The language of SciArt: Group activity, grass-root educators, outreach for public health awareness.
– Shortlisting 10 ASHA workers for complete full day training in April
– Prize distribution, felicitation, certificate distribution
Written by :-
Dr. Sufia Sadaf,
Program Manager,
The Rockefeller Foundation-Alliance for Pathogen Surveillance Innovations (RF-APSI)
NCBS-TIFR
Bangalore