The “Ananya” programme, run by BBC Media Action in collaboration with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation aims to reduce child mortality, improve maternal health and reduce infectious disease in Bihar state, India.
A “Mobile Academy” training course has been developed to expand and refresh the health workers’ knowledge of 10 life-saving health behaviors and enhance their communication skills.
The audio course is delivered via Interactive Voice Response (IVR) that can be accessed from any mobile handset. A multimedia service called “Mobile Kunji” (key or guide), which provides information on these health issues, has also been introduced.
Mobile Kunji and Academy are accessible from any mobile phone handset without the need for special software. The short codes and tariffs are common across six of the biggest mobile operators in India. Plans are afoot now to expand the services to more districts of Bihar and two other Indian states — Uttar Pradesh and Odisha.