Overview

Never Stop Screening 2.0 is a digital health intervention excuted by Pathfinder in three states of India wherein AI-aided technology was used to screen and identify tuberculosis (TB) cases, and provide nutritional support.

India contributes 26% to the worldwide tuberculosis burden. An estimated 26 lakh individuals are infected with tuberculosis each year in India. The most recent national survey on the prevalence of tuberculosis revealed that 43% of symptom-free individuals had anomalous X-ray findings. This indicates that tuberculosis may not be diagnosed in many patients; thus, the most straightforward method to screen them for the disease using a chest X-ray is to conduct a TB diagnostic test.

The ability of the newly developed X-ray imaging device by Fujifilm to utilize automated X-ray screening tools based on artificial intelligence enables diagnostic testing decisions at the point of care. These point-of-care instruments are of great assistance in averting the initial breaches in the tuberculosis care cascade.

Project Activities

• Vulnerability mapping with trained volunteers in identified districts in the three states of Kerala, Gujarat and Assam.
• Close coordination with CTD and STB Division to identify vulnerable population which included tea garden workers in upper Assam, tribal population in Wayanad, Kerala and industrial workers in Kutch, Gujrat.
• Training of over 400 volunteers in vulnerability mapping and providing MIS for data collection.
• Promotional mobile van installed with mobile X-ray device and AI system for point of care implementation.
• Go-tagging system development to assess the efficacy of bringing point of care closer to the client in TB case screening.
• Development of digital communication tools for awareness generation.
• Developed animated films regional language and radio jingles for awareness generation of promotion of screening camps.
• National level and state level of the project for visibility and government support for the project.
• Roping in a brand ambassador for the TB campaign to generate awareness about the TB screening.

Project Goals and Results

• The Never Stop Screening 2.0 program benefited over 380,000 vulnerable people.
• Over 300 trained volunteers were engaged for vulnerability mapping of over 350,000 people.
• Close to 27000 AI aided X-Rays were conducted using handheld device developed by Fujifilm.
• More than 3600 sputum samples were collected for testing and the project identified 530 positive TB cases.