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Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a global leader in IT services, consulting, and business solutions, has collaborated with the echo network, a global social innovation initiative hosted by the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences (ATV), to combat outbreaks of dengue fever and other viral diseases. This collaboration aims to harness digital technology and citizen engagement to address pressing public health challenges.
As part of this initiative, TCS will provide technology support to echo network’s ‘I am OneHealth’ programme in Bengaluru. Leveraging its TCS TECH4HOPE programme – a pro bono initiative that provides technology solutions to non-profit organizations – TCS is driving impactful change by enabling communities to combat dengue through data-driven insights and citizen participation. The echo network is funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, which supports public health and sustainability worldwide.
Utilising an interactive and free WhatsApp-based chatbot, the project engages school and college students to map hyperlocal environmental conditions impacting dengue transmission.
This citizen-generated data is then enriched with TCS’ advanced IT solutions that analyse humidity, temperature, and other location-specific parameters. The integrated data is transformed into real-time insights in collaboration with several Bengaluru-based organisations, contributing to a Vulnerability Index and an innovative Dengue Prevention Dashboard.
Dengue, a rapidly growing health concern, is the most common mosquito-borne viral disease in many countries, including India. In 2024, the Bengaluru region alone reported over 14,000 cases. The ‘I am OneHealth’ programme in collaboration with the Bengaluru Science and Technology Cluster, an initiative by the office of Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India of India, unites local communities, academic institutions, and health authorities to fight viral diseases through technology and collective action.