GTA

Project Duration: (February 2023 – 2026)

Funding: International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada

Implementing Organizations: PHC Global (Pakistan) and GTA Foundation (Nepal)

Project Overview: AI-Sarosh is a regional initiative designed to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the delivery and efficacy of sexual, reproductive and adolescent health (SRH) services across Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The project's primary objectives are to develop and deploy AI-driven tools and platforms that improve health literacy among target populations, augment clinical decision-making for healthcare providers, and contribute to evidence-based policy formulation. A critical component of the project is the development of accessible and user-centric solutions, designed to accommodate diverse levels of technological literacy.

Specific Objectives:

1. To foster interdisciplinary collaboration between AI experts, SRMH specialists, and program implementation professionals.
2. To facilitate knowledge translation and bridge communication gaps between technology developers and healthcare sector stakeholders.
3. To establish platforms for dialogue concerning the ethical and safe deployment of AI solutions for women and adolescents.
4. To advocate for the responsible application of AI to advance SRMH outcomes within the South Asian region.

Key Thematic Areas:

1. Maternal Health
2. Family Planning and Male Partner Engagement
3. Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH)
4. Maternal Mental Health
5. Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Service Delivery

Project Outcomes and Impact: AI-Sarosh functions as a regional knowledge hub, providing support to eight sub-grantee organizations implementing nine transformative projects throughout South Asia. Sub-grantee institutions include:

• Pakistan: Aga Khan University, National University of Science and Technology (NUST)
• Bangladesh: CMED Health Limited, Eminence Associates for Social Development, mPower Social Enterprises
• Nepal: NAAMII, Wiseyak Solutions
• Sri Lanka: University of Colombo

These projects employ advanced machine learning methodologies to develop innovative tools, including predictive models for postnatal depression, gestational diabetes risk assessment algorithms, AI-enabled adolescent health platforms, AI-assisted fetal ultrasound diagnostics, and AI-supported cervical cancer screening tools.

Beyond project implementation, AI-Sarosh serves as a collaborative platform, facilitating regional and international partnerships to promote knowledge exchange, scale evidence-based interventions, and accelerate innovation in SRMH healthcare. Future initiatives will focus on expanding data repositories, refining AI algorithms, and integrating these tools into existing health systems to ensure long-term sustainability and maximize impact across South Asia.