PRAYAGRAJ, Oct. 26 -- A statewide health survey aimed at informing disease prevention policies has been launched, with Prayagraj identified as a key focus district. The initiative involves the first-ever door-to-door collection of health data using a fully online system. In Prayagraj, 12 city localities (250 households in each locality) and 42 villages (200 households in each village) have been selected for detailed health mapping, confirmed Santosh Kumar, district statistical officer (DSTO). Survey teams are collecting information on common illnesses, the number of affected individuals, and household medical expenditures, which will contribute to a comprehensive state database for disease prevention and early intervention. Previously conducted manually, the survey is now fully digital under the supervision of the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO). All data is entered directly into a designated app, which officials say will enhance transparency, facilitate real-time evaluation of health programs, and streamline preventive healthcare planning. "The survey is being conducted in four phases, with 13 personnel units, each comprising four surveyors, deployed in each phase," Santosh Kumar said. "Department surveyors visit designated areas, interact with residents, and complete the data collection process. The information gathered will help identify disease trends, hotspots, and the overall health status of the population, making planning and monitoring of health schemes more efficient," he added. The survey seeks responses to questions such as the number of sick individuals in each household, the health status of children under one year, the most prevalent diseases, and the average annual family medical expenses. The department of economics and statistics aims to complete the survey across all districts by July 2026....