A Digital Health Revolution for Madrasas: 10,000 Hyderabad Students to Receive Preventive Health Screening

Hyderabad, July 26: In a landmark initiative that brings technology and preventive healthcare to the forefront of madrasa education, a comprehensive Preventive Health Screening App was launched on Saturday to provide systematic health screening for 10,000 madrasa students across more than 50 urban settlements in Hyderabad over the next six months.

The pioneering digital health platform was formally launched by Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, President of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), in the presence of Mufti Umer Abideen, Deputy Director, Al Mahad Ul Aali Al Islami, Hyderabad, and Syed Mazharuddin Hussaini, Executive Director, SEED-USA.

Developed by the Helping Hand Foundation (HHF), the application has been designed to facilitate comprehensive preventive health screening for children between 5 and 17 years of age studying in madrasas across Hyderabad. The programme seeks to bridge gaps in preventive healthcare by enabling early detection of health conditions and timely medical intervention, while creating a scalable model that can be replicated in educational institutions across the country.

Addressing the gathering, Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani said technology could play a transformative role in preventive healthcare by identifying health concerns before they become serious illnesses.

“Leveraging high-tech health applications and digital screening tools for our students will go a long way in identifying health issues that can be corrected immediately. I appreciate the efforts of the Helping Hand Foundation in developing this initiative,” he said.

After participating madrasas are enrolled, every student’s health profile will be digitally created before undergoing a comprehensive medical examination conducted by qualified healthcare professionals. The platform integrates four major preventive health screening modules.

The first module focuses on anaemia, malnutrition and cardiometabolic health. Doctors will record key anthropometric parameters including height, weight, Body Mass Index (BMI) and hip-to-waist ratio to evaluate nutritional status and cardiometabolic risk. Clinical indicators such as pallor, brittle nails, paleness and thinning of nails will also be examined to detect early signs of anaemia and nutritional deficiencies.

The second module is dedicated to eye health, assessing visual acuity, eye strain, watery eyes, dry eyes, redness, squinting and light sensitivity. Qualified optometrists will conduct the screenings to facilitate early diagnosis of refractive errors and other preventable eye disorders associated with prolonged exposure to digital screens.

The third module covers dental health, screening students for dental caries, gum diseases, fluorosis, decayed teeth, malalignment and oral ulcers. Organisers said poor dietary habits, including increased consumption of junk food, sugary drinks and processed foods, have contributed to declining oral health among children, with wider implications for their overall health.

At the conclusion of the screening, every student will receive a digital e-Health Card containing a comprehensive record of his or her health status. The card will serve as a permanent digital medical record for routine consultations, emergencies and long-term health monitoring.

Students requiring specialised medical evaluation or treatment will be connected through an established referral network to Helping Hand Foundation’s Primary Healthcare Centres or government hospitals, ensuring continuity of care beyond the initial screening.

Speaking on the occasion, Mujtaba Hasan Askari, Founder-Trustee of the Helping Hand Foundation, said the first phase of the programme would cover 10,000 madrasa students across more than 50 urban settlements, primarily in Hyderabad’s Old City, over the next six months.

He said the initiative combines digital innovation with community healthcare to establish a sustainable model of preventive health screening in educational institutions. By facilitating early detection of nutritional deficiencies, vision disorders, dental diseases and other preventable health conditions, the programme aims to improve children’s overall health, school attendance and academic performance while building longitudinal digital health records that support timely intervention and continuity of care.