The Ministry of Health (Minsa), through the Health Region of San Miguelito, officially launched the pilot plan for the VANESSA platform (Active National Intelligence for Health Education and Arbovirus Surveillance). This is an innovative tool based on artificial intelligence that will strengthen health promotion and community epidemiological surveillance. The Vice Minister of Health, Manuel Zambrano, indicated that in its first phase, VANESSA will function as a virtual assistant-type bot, accessible through the WhatsApp platform, which will allow the population to easily report mosquito breeding sites and suspected dengue cases. Zambrano explained that the pilot plan will have an initial duration of six months, between January and June 2026, and is part of a phased implementation model that will allow its strengthening and progressive scaling, according to the results obtained and operational capabilities. In turn, Ana Rivieré Cinamond, representative of the Pan American Health Organization (OPS), indicated that the use of these new technologies seeks to involve the community in the identification of mosquito breeding sites, so that health teams can be activated and control the cases. Meanwhile, Yaviletsy Centella, director of the Health Region of San Miguelito, stressed that the project is based on comprehensive articulation that involves Vector Control, Environmental Sanitation, Epidemiology and Health Promotion teams, as well as local governments, universities, strategic allies, community leaders and organized groups for dengue prevention. To report mosquito breeding sites and dengue cases through the VANESSA platform, people can do so at the WhatsApp number 6781-7409. The VANESSA platform will receive reports that will include geolocation, photographs and text, which will facilitate the consolidation of information in real time for its analysis, monitoring and evidence-based decision-making by health authorities. Minsa is calling on citizens and local actors to join this initiative, promoting a culture of prevention and early action against dengue and other arboviruses.
