{
  "id": 9658117,
  "title": "Inputs from ASHAs to shape AI-enabled training platform for cervical cancer screening in Assam",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/inputs-from-ashas-to-shape-ai-enabled-training-platform-for-cervical-9658117",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-25T00:09:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/assam/inputs-from-ashas-to-shape-ai-enabled-training-platform-for-cervical-cancer-screening-in-assam/article71504049.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A three-year pilot study aims to create an AI-enabled training platform and multilingual voice chatbot for cervical cancer screening in rural Assam, using the insights of 110 Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs). The George Institute for Global Health India and Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre will develop the digital tools based on the ASHAs' input.\n\nDuring a workshop in Silchar, the ASHAs shared their challenges, support needs, and how technology could ease their community visits and counselling. They reviewed 155 common questions about cervical cancer and screening, using a voting system to identify the most frequently asked ones. The workshop revealed that the ASHAs' field concerns may differ from clinically important questions.\n\nExperts at the workshop emphasized that the ASHAs' experience in explaining screening, responding to concerns, and finding answers should guide the language, content, and functions of the AI platform. The tools should be developed with the ASHAs' comfort and confidence in mind, addressing their practical concerns.\n\nThe ASHAs, ranging from younger and middle-aged to older groups, shared their comfort levels with digital technology. While the younger and middle-aged ASHAs use mobile phones regularly, the older ASHAs find digital tools and language challenging but are eager to learn. The ASHAs also mapped out their careers, which include training, staying updated, counselling on pregnancy and childbirth, test result interpretation, and making referrals.\n\nThrough this process, many ASHAs identified knowledge gaps and discussed using tools like flipcharts for learning. They also highlighted the importance of voice-based interactions in the local language, simple-language content, and search functions that mirror their natural question-asking habits. Other suggested features include short audio-visual lessons, frequently asked questions, reminders, quizzes, and progress tracking.",
  "summary": "About 110 Accredited Social Health Activists in Barak Valley collaborated with doctors, programmers, and researchers to help design the digital tools",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu - Sci-Tech",
        "title": "Inputs from ASHAs to shape AI-enabled training platform for cervical cancer screening in Assam",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/inputs-from-ashas-to-shape-ai-enabled-training-platform-for-cervical",
        "published": "2026-09-25T00:09:06.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}