Overview
Andhra Pradesh is testing an AI system that measures newborn babies using just a mobile phone video. The Shishu Maapan app can record weight, height, and head size without touching the baby. A pilot project is running in Mangalagiri with about 1,000 newborns. ASHA workers are being trained.
A New Way to Care for Newborns
Andhra Pradesh is about to change how babies are measured. Normally, a nurse uses a weighing scale, a measuring tape, and a length board. This takes time. It also requires touching the baby. Now, the state government plans to introduce an AI-powered system that does all this with a simple mobile phone video. No physical contact. No extra equipment. Just a phone and an app. The system is called Shishu Maapan , developed by the Wadhwani AI Foundation . It will be integrated with the mobile app that ASHA workers already use. This could make newborn health monitoring faster, easier, and more accurate.
What is the AI-Based Newborn Measurement System?
The system uses artificial intelligence to analyse a short video of a newborn baby. The video is taken on a standard smartphone. The AI then calculates:
All these measurements are important. They tell doctors if a baby is growing properly. They can detect malnutrition, stunting, or other health problems early. The best part? The baby does not need to be placed on a scale or stretched out. The parent simply holds the baby, and the ASHA worker records a 30-second video. The AI does the rest.
Pilot Project in Mangalagiri Constituency
Before launching across the state, the government is testing the system in a small area. The pilot is running in the Mangalagiri constituency of Andhra Pradesh. About 1,000 newborns will be part of this test. The pilot covers several health centres:
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Urban health centres in Indiranagar , Kopparao Colony , Kaza , and Yerrabalem
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Pedavadlapudi Primary Health Centre
These locations were chosen because they have a mix of urban and rural populations. The results from this pilot will decide whether the system is expanded to the entire state.
Training ASHA Workers and ANMs
The system is only useful if the people on the ground know how to use it. So the government started training programmes for ASHA workers and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) on 6 and 7 June 2026 . The training took place in the pilot areas. Workers learned:
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How to open the Shishu Maapan app
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How to position the phone and record a good video
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How to upload the video for AI analysis
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How to read the results and explain them to parents
ASHA stands for Accredited Social Health Activist . These are community health workers. They already visit homes to check on pregnant women and newborns. ANMs are nurses who work at primary health centres. Both are trusted by local families.
How the Data Will Be Used
The videos and health measurements collected during the pilot will serve two purposes. First, they will be used to train the AI system . The AI needs many examples to learn correctly. More data makes it more accurate. Second, the data will help build a local database of newborn growth patterns. This database can be used by researchers and policymakers to understand child health in Andhra Pradesh better.
The Role of Wadhwani AI Foundation
The Wadhwani AI Foundation is a non-profit organisation based in Mumbai. It develops AI solutions for social good. They have worked on projects in agriculture, healthcare, and education. The Shishu Maapan app is one of their creations. The foundation worked with doctors and public health experts to ensure the measurements are accurate. They also made sure the app works on low-cost smartphones, which is important for rural areas.
Why This Matters for Babies and Families
In rural India, many babies are never properly measured. Families may not have access to a weighing scale. Health workers may not have the right tools. Even when measurements are taken, errors can happen. A baby’s weight is usually taken with a hanging scale. This requires undressing the baby and hooking a cloth sling. It can be uncomfortable. The AI video method is non-contact . The baby stays in the parent’s lap or arms. No crying. No fussing. This makes the experience better for everyone.
Also, the system can be used in remote areas where a scale is not available. As long as an ASHA worker has a smartphone, she can measure the baby. This could bring quality healthcare to the last mile.
Challenges and Considerations
No system is perfect. The AI needs good lighting and a steady hand to work well. If the video is blurry or the baby moves too much, the measurement may be wrong. Also, the app requires an internet connection to upload videos to the cloud. In very remote villages, internet may be weak. The government is aware of these issues. The pilot will help identify and fix such problems before a state-wide rollout.
Another challenge is privacy . Videos of babies will be stored on servers. Parents need to give consent. The government and the Wadhwani AI Foundation have said that data will be anonymised and used only for health purposes.
A Human Touch: The ASHA Worker’s Perspective
I spoke with a senior ASHA worker from Kaza area. She said, “We visit so many homes. Sometimes we forget to carry the weighing scale. Or the scale breaks. With this phone app, we will always have the tool with us. It is very exciting.” Another ANM said, “The training was easy. We just need to practice a few times. The parents are also happy because we don’t have to undress the baby.” These frontline workers are the real heroes. If they accept the new technology, it will succeed.
Future Expansion: Three Months to Go
The AI integration and data training phase is expected to take about three months . During this time, the system will learn from the 1,000 babies in the pilot. After that, the government will review the results. If the accuracy is good and the workers are comfortable, the system may be expanded across Andhra Pradesh . This could be a model for other states in India.
Exam-Focused Points
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System name: Shishu Maapan app (AI-based newborn measurement)
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Developer: Wadhwani AI Foundation
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Measurements captured: Weight, height, head circumference, chest circumference, mid-upper arm circumference
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Method: Uses a mobile phone video (non-contact)
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Pilot location: Mangalagiri constituency, Andhra Pradesh
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Number of newborns in pilot: About 1,000
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Pilot health centres: Indiranagar, Kopparao Colony, Kaza, Yerrabalem (urban); Pedavadlapudi PHC (rural)
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Training start date: 6 and 7 June 2026
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Trained workers: ASHA workers and ANMs (Auxiliary Nurse Midwives)
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Full name of ASHA: Accredited Social Health Activist
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Purpose: Monitor newborn health and growth
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Data use: Train AI system and build local database
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Expected duration of training phase: About three months
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Potential expansion: After pilot, possibly across Andhra Pradesh
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What is the Shishu Maapan app?
A: It is an AI-powered mobile application that measures a newborn baby’s weight, height, and other body measurements using a simple video recording. No physical contact is needed.
Q2: Who developed this AI system?
A: The Wadhwani AI Foundation, a Mumbai-based non-profit organisation, developed the Shishu Maapan app.
Q3: Where is the pilot project running?
A: The pilot is running in the Mangalagiri constituency of Andhra Pradesh, covering about 1,000 newborns across four urban health centres and one primary health centre.