Shwaas

About Shwaas

Shwaas is a tool designed to help "trained" frontline workers and caregivers to screen and triage patients with COVID like symptoms. The app helps them to decide whether a person with Covid-like symptoms can be managed at home without consulting a doctor (Green), needs consultation (Yellow) or needs admission and detailed work up at a hospital (Red).
This could especially benefit organisations/groups working with communities.

The app is co-developed by Jan Swasthya Sahyog (http://jssbilaspur.org/) and Samanvay Research And Development Foundation (http://samanvayfoundation.org/).
Jan Swasthya Sahyog is a health based NGO working for more than 20 years towards preventative and curative health in rural and tribal populations. It consists a team of clinicians and public health experts.
Samanvay Foundation is not-for-profit technology based company developing open-source and free softwares for social good for more than 5 years.

The protocol implemented in the app closely follows protocols established by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) with modifications suggested by some doctors working in rural India.


Need for the tool
Some doctors working in rural India noticed that many hospital visits in Covid patients happen when their health has worsened to significant levels (saturation below 80). In urban areas the problem is reverse where patients unnecessarily occupy the beds making it unavailable for those who need it. They identified that if volunteers are trained to visit patients with fever and cough, triage these patients and send those whose conditions are worsening to hospitals early enough to provide required care or assure those who are safe at home, many lives can be saved. In this context, Shwaas was conceived to aid such volunteers.


Current status
The app is currently being piloted by health workers in around 72 villages near Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh where Jan Swasthya Sahyog works. The app is currently available in 6 Indic languages and more coming soon.
The team is committed to keep the app updated as we learn more about COVID and needs from the usage.