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Source-This post on Kilkari programme has been created based on the article “Mobile health initiative Kilkari launched with local content in Gujarat, Maharashtra” published in “ThePrint” on 7 February 2024.
Why in the news?
Health ministry has launched Mobile Health Service ‘Kilkari’ and Mobile Academy in Maharashtra and Gujarat to improve health services..
About Kilkari programme
| Aspect | Details |
| About | ‘Kilkari’ means ‘a baby’s gurgle’. It is a centralized interactive voice response (IVR) based mobile health service. |
| Objective | To improve families’ knowledge and uptake of life-saving preventative health practices. |
| Funding | Cost is completely born by the central government. It is centrally hosted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). |
| Implementation | The programme is integrated with the centralized Reproductive Child Health (RCH) portal of MoHFW’s. |
| Features | 1) It delivers free, weekly, time-appropriate 72 audio messages about pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare directly to families’ mobile phones. 2) It starts sending messages from the second trimester of pregnancy until the child is one year old. 2) Women who are registered in Reproductive Child Health (RCH) portal also receive a weekly call with pre-recorded audio content directly on their mobile phones 3) Kilkari audio messages are present in the form of the voice of a fictitious doctor character called Dr. Anita. |
| Current state of implementation | It is under implementation in 18 States / UTs of India. |
What is mobile academy?
1) It is a free audio training course designed to expand and refresh the knowledge of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA). This course is provided on their mobile phones to improve their communication skills.
2) Accessibility-It is an anytime, anywhere training course that can train thousands of ASHAs simultaneously via mobile phone.
3) Languages-It is available in six languages viz. Hindi, Bhojpuri, Oriya, Assamese, Bengali & Telugu versions.
4) Current state of operation-It is operational in 17 States/UTs except Chandigarh.
UPSC Syllabus-Schemes & programmes in news
