Our proposal for a new, easy-to-use mobile phone application to enable health workers to collect immunization data in real time at point-of-service using optical character recognition methods (“optical scanning”) just bagged three awards! In an unprecedented collaboration, the Government of India’s Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the UNICEF Innovation Fund have come together to support us in accelerating innovation. This idea emerged from our earlier efforts to strengthen immunization uptake and child health outcomes through social, behavioural and community engagement strategies. Through our experience in the field, we were able to understand where the root gaps in the system lie and develop a unique field-appropriate approach to fill them. The new technology will enable agile decision-making and an integrated approach to improving to immunization supply and demand at the last mile.

Grand Challenges Canada gives us a gold star.

Our proposal wins the Grand Challenges Canada Stars in Global Health award! Our bold idea is to expand the scope of the TikaVaani platform to include materials on breastfeeding, nutrition, and WASH, in addition to immunisation, and thereby to transform the lives of newborns and children. An integrated strategy linking vaccination initiatives to strengthening primary health care systems makes tremendous sense. Grand Challenges Canada, funded by the Government of Canada, seeks Bold Ideas with Big Impact to use scientific/ technical, social and business innovation to save and improve lives in low- and middle-income countries. We are honoured to join the family of Grand Challenges Canada awardees.

Our proposal is a winner!

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) awarded us funds to conduct a cutting-edge field trial to evaluate our work. This award will allow us to take our scientific research to the next level. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the Government of Canada’s health research investment agency.

Tika Vaani is born!

IC-IMPACTS has just selected its newest panel of promising innovations. Our proposal was a winner in the public health category! IC-IMPACTS awarded us funding to expand our work using mobile technology to improve child health and service delivery, with a focus on vaccination programs. We are deeply honoured to join the IC-IMPACTS network, with whom we share a common vision and values.

IC-IMPACTS (the India-Canada Centre for Innovative Multidisciplinary Partnerships to Accelerate Community Transformation and Sustainability) is the Canada-India Research Centre of Excellence established through the Canadian Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE). Working hand-in-hand with communities in Canada and India, IC-IMPACTS and its partners develop and implement community-based solutions to the most urgent needs of each nation, fostering improved health and longevity, increased economic prosperity, and positive social change.

Thanks for the vote of confidence!

The Shastri Institute has awarded us funding for a second time. Our winning bid was for a small study to explore the potential and feasibility of using mobile phone technology to increase community demand for child immunisation services in rural Uttar Pradesh, India.

Gender matters!

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) awarded us funds to conduct research on gender, immunisation and child health. This award will allow us to strengthen scientific research and analysis methods for a cross-sectional study, to better understand the complex interplay between the social, economic, environmental and health systems determinants of child health. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the Government of Canada’s health research investment agency.

Our joint proposal with Pratham Education Foundation is a GCE winner!

Immunization is one of the world’s most cost-effective health interventions. However, each year approximately 25 million infants are not fully vaccinated, and at least 2.4 million children die from vaccine-preventable diseases. An effective vaccine supply side is essential; yet, some of the key causes of low immunization coverage relate to low demand for vaccines, lack of trust, and poor governance and service responsiveness at the last mile. Our innovative proposal leverages the extensive grassroots networks and expertise in behaviour change communication of our partner expert in child literacy to tackle the novel issues of immunization coverage gaps and child health. We thank the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for taking a chance on us – we will strive to surpass your expectations. 

Off and running!

We are grateful winners of a Shastri Institute grant. India is struggling to achieve the targets set for Millennium Development Goal 4 (reduce child mortality) and low vaccination coverage is a key modifiable lever. The Shastri Institute has awarded us funds to conduct participatory action research at the grassroots level to understand the factors that shape demand for vaccines and similar services, with the ultimate aim of contributing to better vaccination uptake.