Sravanthi a SMARThealth pregnancy patient in rural India

Improving pregnancy and lifelong care in rural India with SMARThealth Pregnancy

STORIES OF IMPACT

Sravanthi’s story

Sravanthi lives in Siddipet in the Indian state of Telangana. When Sravanthi was first pregnant, her husband was very unwell and she was under great stress. She developed pre-eclampsia and lost her baby in the eighth month of the pregnancy.

I started bleeding, so I was rushed to government hospital in Siddipet. Over there they referred me to Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad where they had to remove the baby. My blood pressure had increased, and the baby passed away in my womb in the 8th month. No one even tried to understand what had happened or how it happened.
By: SravanthiSMARThealth patient

THE challenge

NCDs and Pregnancy

1 in 7Pregnant women
suffer from
gestational diabetes
50%of those women
will develop type ii diabetes within 5–10 years
1 in 10Pregnant women
will suffer from
pre-eclampsia
Over 50%of indian women
are anaemic
during pregnancy
Over 80%of maternal deaths
are partially
due to anaemia

The solution

Introducing SMARThealth

SMARThealth is a primary healthcare tool developed by The George Institute to guide screening, diagnosis and management of chronic diseases. The approach, which focuses on a low-cost, digital platform used by health workers, significantly improves patient care in low-resource settings. SMARThealth is implemented through handheld digital devices such as tablets which use evidence-based algorithms and guidelines embracing new AI technology, to evaluate patient information input by health workers, who can refer patients ‘at risk’ to clinicians for follow-up. Health workers using our SMARThealth digital platform have connected over 10,000 women to essential healthcare during and after pregnancy, addressing critical gaps in cardiovascular, maternal, mental, and environmental healthcare. 

The SMARThealth Program played a crucial role in my second pregnancy. My ASHA Worker used a tablet to check my health regularly. She helped me monitor my blood pressure, which had been a huge concern before. Every month, she checked my blood pressure 2-3 times and made sure I was eating well, taking my medications, and avoiding stress.

Thanks to the SMARThealth Program, I felt confident this time around. The ASHA Worker continued to check my blood pressure, and I made sure to take my medicines on time. My husband also supported me, and together, we ensured that I stayed healthy. I learned the importance of eating the right food, especially green leafy vegetables, and following my ASHA worker’s guidance. She explained the importance of monitoring my blood pressure and heart health. Because of her support, I didn’t develop any heart-related problems, which could have been a risk due to my high blood pressure.
By: SravanthiSMARThealth patient