Inputs from ASHA to develop an AI-powered training platform for cervical cancer screening in Assam

The field experience of about 110 Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) will help design an AI-powered training platform and multilingual voice chatbot to strengthen cervical cancer screening and community counseling in rural Assam.

George Institute for Global Health India and Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Center in southern Assam’s Barak Valley will develop digital tools based on inputs from these ASHAs. They shared their daily challenges with a team of trainers, doctors, program coordinators, researchers and technologists at a workshop in Silchar.

The workshop, organized recently, was part of a three-year pilot study on the use of artificial intelligence for more effective cervical cancer screening, funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research.

ASHAs discussed the daily challenges they face, the support that would really help them, and how technology could make community visits and counseling easier for them.

During the ASHA workshop, they reviewed 155 common questions people ask about cervical cancer and screening. They used a simple voting system to determine which questions came up most frequently in the field, raised by women, husbands, family members, and others in their communities.

According to the experts who led the workshop, the exercise highlighted that the issues ASHAs most frequently face in the field are not always the same as those considered clinically relevant. They said these findings will inform the development of a chatbot knowledge base that addresses both priority health information needs and practical issues ASHAs encounter in their work.

“This workshop began with a simple principle: technology for ASHAs should be designed with ASHAs. Their experiences explaining screening, responding to concerns and finding answers in real-time will guide the language, content and functionality of this AI platform. Our goal is to develop clinically proven support that matches their work, rather than adding additional digital burden,” said Anita Gadgil, the project’s principal investigator and senior researcher at The George Institute.

Use of digital technology

The workshop also explored ASHAs’ comfort and confidence with digital technology. Younger and middle-aged ASHAs reported using mobile phones regularly to report, communicate and access information. ASHAs in older age groups reported finding digital tools and language more challenging, but expressed a strong willingness to learn and gain more confidence in their use.

ASHAs also charted their career path, including training, following up on what they learned, counseling women about pregnancy or childbirth, reviewing people’s test results, and making the right recommendations. Through this process, many ASHAs recognized their knowledge gaps and discussed using tools such as flipcharts to brush them up when needed.

ASHAs further emphasized the value of local language voice interactions, simple content, and search features that reflect how ASHAs naturally ask questions. They also designed features like short audio-visual lessons, FAQs, reminders, quizzes, and progress tracking.

Cervical cancer is a major health problem in India and gaps in awareness and screening continue to prevent early detection. ASHAs often bridge this gap, reaching out to women in their communities, explaining what screening involves, and connecting them to care.

Published – 25 Sep 2026 05:39 IST