Ghar Ghar Nigrani (Mobile Application)

The Ghar Ghar Nigrani mobile application is a digital health surveillance initiative launched by the Government of Punjab to strengthen disease monitoring and early detection at the community level. Designed as part of the state’s public health management and preventive care framework, the app facilitates door-to-door screening and data collection for communicable and non-communicable diseases across Punjab.

Background and Launch

The Ghar Ghar Nigrani (GGN) initiative was launched in 2020 by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, under the guidance of the Chief Minister and the State Health Mission. The term “Ghar Ghar Nigrani” literally translates to “surveillance from house to house”, symbolising the government’s proactive approach to community health.
The initiative gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it became crucial to track suspected cases, monitor symptoms, and manage quarantine measures through real-time data collection. It has since evolved into a comprehensive digital public health surveillance platform, contributing to the state’s preventive healthcare strategy under the Tandarust Punjab Mission.

Objectives of the Initiative

The Ghar Ghar Nigrani mobile application was developed with the following key objectives:

• To detect and monitor diseases early through house-to-house screening.
• To digitise health data of every household for efficient public health planning.
• To facilitate real-time tracking of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases.
• To identify individuals with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, diabetes, and cancer for timely treatment.
• To strengthen the primary healthcare system by enabling field-level health workers to record and report data electronically.
• To support data-driven decision-making for health policy and resource allocation.

Implementation Framework

The Department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, is the nodal agency responsible for implementing the initiative. It operates in collaboration with National Health Mission (NHM), district administrations, and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs).
Key operational features include:

1. Door-to-Door Screening:
   • Trained health workers and ASHA volunteers visit households across the state to collect health-related information.
   • Data is entered directly into the mobile application using tablets or smartphones.
2. Digital Health Registry:
   • Each household’s data, including demographic details, medical history, and disease symptoms, is uploaded into a centralised database.
   • The data forms the basis for the creation of a state-level health profile, mapping disease trends geographically.
3. Real-Time Disease Surveillance:
   • The app enables immediate reporting of suspected cases of infectious diseases such as COVID-19, tuberculosis, dengue, and malaria.
   • Alerts generated through the system are shared with district health authorities for rapid response and containment.
4. Monitoring of Non-Communicable Diseases:
   • Apart from communicable diseases, the system identifies individuals suffering from lifestyle-related illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and cancer.
   • Follow-up care and counselling are arranged through Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs).
5. Integration with Existing Health Programmes:
   • The GGN platform is linked with national health schemes such as the Ayushman Bharat Health Mission, Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana (SSBY), and National Health Digital Mission (NDHM) for integrated service delivery.

Features of the Mobile Application

The Ghar Ghar Nigrani App is a user-friendly digital tool designed to simplify health data collection, analysis, and reporting. Its main features include:

• Digital Dashboard: Displays real-time data on health screenings, disease alerts, and household coverage.
• GPS Integration: Enables geo-tagging of surveyed households for location-based analysis.
• Automated Alerts: Flags potential health risks or outbreak clusters for immediate attention.
• Offline Data Entry: Allows field workers to input data without continuous internet connectivity, which can later be synchronised when online.
• User Authentication: Ensures data security through unique logins for authorised health personnel.
• Analytics and Reporting Tools: Provide district and state-level health officers with visual insights for strategic planning.

Use During COVID-19 Pandemic

The Ghar Ghar Nigrani application played a pivotal role in Punjab’s COVID-19 management strategy. It facilitated large-scale door-to-door screening for influenza-like illnesses (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI), enabling early detection and isolation of potential COVID-19 cases.
Through the app, health teams were able to:

• Conduct temperature and oxygen-level screenings at the household level.
• Identify and record travel and contact histories.
• Refer suspected cases for testing and quarantine.
• Track home-isolated patients and monitor recovery progress.

This proactive digital surveillance system helped contain local outbreaks, especially during the early phases of the pandemic, and contributed to efficient contact tracing and targeted testing.

Benefits and Outcomes

The implementation of the Ghar Ghar Nigrani App has yielded several significant benefits:

1. Enhanced Health Surveillance: The initiative has strengthened Punjab’s capacity for disease surveillance by maintaining a live database of public health indicators.
2. Data-Driven Decision Making: Real-time data enables authorities to identify disease hotspots and allocate resources effectively.
3. Community Health Awareness: Regular interactions with health workers have increased public awareness about hygiene, vaccination, and preventive care.
4. Integration of Health Services: Linking household-level data with healthcare facilities ensures better continuity of care and follow-up treatment.
5. Operational Efficiency: Digitisation reduces paperwork, eliminates delays, and improves the accuracy of health data collection.

Challenges in Implementation

Despite its success, the Ghar Ghar Nigrani initiative faces a few challenges:

• Digital Infrastructure Limitations: Internet connectivity in rural areas can sometimes hinder data uploading and synchronisation.
• Training Requirements: Continuous training of ASHA workers and health staff is necessary to ensure accurate and consistent data entry.
• Data Privacy Concerns: Maintaining the confidentiality of health data requires strict adherence to cybersecurity standards.
• Sustainability of Operations: Ensuring periodic health surveys and system updates requires sustained funding and administrative commitment.

Integration with Tandarust Punjab Mission

The Ghar Ghar Nigrani App is part of the broader Tandarust Punjab Mission, which aims to ensure the overall health, fitness, and well-being of the state’s residents. By enabling early disease detection and preventive healthcare, the app supports the mission’s goal of “Healthy People in a Healthy Punjab.”