
Staff reporter
Guwahati: In a landmark step toward inclusive healthcare and education, the Department of Neurology, Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Assam, launched a mobile health application aimed at educating school teachers on epilepsy management among school children. The app has been developed under the ICMR-supported project titled “Tele-school health-led Epilepsy Smart Schools in India: An Implementation Initiative with Mixed Methods Assessment (Tele_ESSI).”
The mobile application was officially unveiled at the CN Centre, GMCH, by Suranjana Senapati, Director of Elementary Education, Assam, in the presence of Deepika Choudhury, Inspector of Schools & District Elementary Education Officer, Kamrup (Metro), Prof. Dr. A.C. Baishya, Principal-cum-Superintendent of GMCH, Dr. Anupama Deka, and Dr. Munindra Goswami, Head of the Departments of Paediatrics and Neurology, GMCH.
The initiative is aimed at equipping school teachers with essential knowledge and practical tools to manage epileptic episodes in classrooms, reduce stigma, and create a safe and supportive school environment for children with epilepsy. As part of the broader project, a helpline was launched on October 4, 2024, offering immediate medical guidance. Since its inception, the helpline has received over 70 calls, with four children referred to GMCH for emergency consultations — a testament to the real-time utility of the initiative.
The Tele_ESSI project is also being implemented at Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot (Punjab), and AIIMS Nagpur, underlining a pan-India collaboration to improve epilepsy care and awareness through school-based interventions.
The newly launched mobile app features teacher-friendly, video-based training modules focusing on seizure recognition, first aid, myth-busting, stigma reduction, and fostering inclusive practices. Designed for accessibility, the app ensures that teachers have vital information at their fingertips during real-time medical episodes in classrooms.
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