As a young girl fascinated by the role doctors play in communities, she held on to the dream of working as a medical professional.

Today, Dr. Sneha Nikam has a rich and diverse background in public health, spanning tribal, rural, and urban communities across India. She has over a decade of experience in various public health areas, encompassing health informatics, quality improvement, healthcare technology, public health planning, and project implementation and administration. 

Dr. Sneha plays a key role in the technical support units of state and central government health departments and a prominent CSR initiative. She currently leads the program team for maternal and child health initiatives at the Wadhwani Institute of Artificial Intelligence (AI). 

While studying medicine, Dr. Sneha realized that she did not want her work to be confined to the walls of a hospital. "I had individuals with diverse ailments coming to the OPD settings," she said in a conversation with INDIAai. 

According to Dr. Sneha, India is diverse in traditions, customs, and cultures. Therefore, it is not possible to heal a patient solely with medicines. Her quest to do 'something different' directed her to the world of public health. 

AI and Public Health 

"In my career in public health, I work across various digital technology interventions," said Dr. Sneha, speaking about her experience working with the government to build web platforms called the Health Management Information System (HMIS). 

Sneha strongly believes in utilizing technology platforms and analytics to reach as many individuals as possible. "That's the reason why I joined Wadhwani AI, which is a non-profit organization focused on AI technology innovations," she added. 

According to Dr. Sneha, AI technology is a “boosting factor” that will help perform activities more efficiently. 

Dr. Sneha remarked that the public is sometimes hesitant to adopt AI. "I have learned in these few years that hesitance is due to the lack of AI knowledge," she says.

However, she believes that times are changing, and it is a matter of making efforts to increase the information capacity or knowledge capacity of the stakeholders. Dr. Sneha opines that the initial hesitance could be tackled by providing adequate information about the model. "Stigmatization is a behavioral concept," she adds.

Aiding Frontline Workers 

India's frontline workers include ASHA workers and auxiliary nurse midwives (ANM). All three cadres of frontline workers operate at various village levels. 

The Shishu Maapan, designed for frontline workers by Wadhwani AI, allows accurate measurements of newborns—such as weight, height, and head and chest circumference—using only a basic smartphone. Shishu Maapan can accurately measure the anthropometric data of newborns (0–42 days) from a short video taken on a basic smartphone in community settings. A frontline worker captures the newborn's video using a basic smartphone, and the AI model then estimates the anthropometric measurements, generating accurate, real-time, and tamper-proof results. 

According to Dr. Sneha, their team also works with ANMs, who provide basic services to pregnant women. The team collaborates with JHPIEGO (a Johns Hopkins University affiliate), to develop an AI tool that helps identify pregnant women who are prone to missing their ANC visits. ANC visits are health checkups for pregnant women. This AI tool can aid frontline health workers in identifying high-risk pregnancies. 

Furthermore, Dr. Sneha explained why it is important to have a "balanced team" when developing AI models. In her opinion, this approach helps to incorporate a female perspective, which contributes to developing bias-free models. "Ultimately, the technology you are developing is for all genders," she added. 

Tackling mental health challenges 

Dr. Sneha is working with thematic area experts to understand how AI can be leveraged to help women who face mental health issues such as postpartum depression. Technology has advanced to a stage where, based on an individual's voice recordings, we can gain insight into that individual’s mental status. 

According to Dr. Sneha, certain AI technologies have already been used in this area worldwide, with encouraging results. Therefore, AI can be used to screen individuals and provide suitable counseling to patients. AI models are available in the form of chatbots and applications that contain scientifically proven questions to screen individuals with mental health issues.

Not an alien technology 

"For all the women out there, it's crucial to understand how you will be able to make a difference by participating in this journey of developing AI technology," said Dr. Sneha, sharing her words of wisdom with young AI aspirants. The critical point is not to view AI as an alien technology. 

In AI development, experience and expertise are essential. We should be open-minded toward exploring new technologies. "And one message I would like to give to all our viewers is that don't be apprehensive about exploring new pathways," she added.