In Bangladesh, dengue season comes like clockwork, however, preparedness is far from guaranteed especially in communities with the least resources to respond. But for Mohammad Adnan ALP ‘24, creator of Denguard, protecting communities from its impact isn’t just a technical challenge. It’s a personal mission born out of loss, resilience, and a vision for public health justice.
When he was in ninth grade, Bangladesh saw one of its worst dengue outbreaks in history, with over 300,000 cases. Two of Adnan’s classmates ended up in intensive care; they survived, but thousands didn’t. That year sparked a lifelong commitment: to build a system that not only reacts to dengue crises but prevents them altogether. Years later, that vision became Denguard.
A Smart System for a Complex Problem
Developed as a solo project, Denguard is a multilingual, AI-powered mobile and web app built to empower people with real-time information, tools, and support to tackle dengue, from prevention to treatment.
Launched in Bangladesh, the platform features an AI chatbot (DenAI) trained on WHO guidelines to answer user questions in Bangla and English, a symptom checker, an interactive dengue hotspot map powered by machine learning, and a myth-busting Q&A library to combat misinformation. With offline access, GPS-based reporting, nearby hospital maps, and blood donor directories, it’s designed not only for cities but also for low-connectivity, high-risk areas where help often arrives too late.
Despite being built by one individual, Denguard has already made national waves. It won the top prize at the AUST ARC Rover Challenge Software Exhibition and has been featured on several local platforms for its community-centered design. Over 50,000 early viewers have engaged with the platform, and Adnan aims to reach 100,000+ users across South Asia by 2026.
But for Adnan, recognition is just the beginning. “In Bangladesh, dengue has become similar to a seasonal disease which strikes each and every year and people still are not aware about this. This inspired me to leverage technology to build something that could save lives through awareness, accessibility, and early reporting,” he shared.
Built by One, Backed by Many
While the technical side, from AI integration and multilingual design to risk-zone modeling, was handled solo, the app is now attracting interest from NGOs and public health organizations seeking public-private collaboration. Talks are already underway to build a Denguard Awareness Toolkit for schools and expand the platform’s reach beyond Bangladesh.
A complementary website has also launched, extending its core features to wider audiences and paving the way for future research applications and international partnerships.
What started as a solo project is quickly becoming a potential public health game-changer. With eyes set on global expansion and grassroots engagement, Denguard is more than a tech tool, it’s a movement rooted in empathy, driven by evidence, and designed to turn awareness into action.
