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Manila Bulletin devider Technews devider AI-Based BantAI COVID Helps Fight The Corona Virus Pandemic

AI-Based BantAI COVID Helps Fight The Corona Virus Pandemic

Published Sep 4, 2020 06:30 pm

A month long since its launch as a pilot project in Quezon City, the AI-powered free SMS platform BantAI Covid system is now proving to be an effective tool in combating the coronavirus pandemic, thereby complementing the citywide effort to flatten the curve.

Developed by a group of medical practitioners headed by DR. LOYSA ORENSE, President of VIREO LOADWORKS, INC., the AI-powered system utilizes the SMS platform in contact tracing triaging, monitoring, and providing telemedicine and referrals to hospitals and quarantine to suspected and probable cases of COVID-19.

This was the solidarity response of the Quezon City Local Government, Philippine Medical Association, Quezon City Medical Society, and Vireo Loadworks under the BantAI Covid project.

Under the BantAI Covid, the COVID-positive close contacts are enrolled by the City Epidemiological Surveillance Unit (CESU) after the RT-PCR testing, then the system will be contact tracing and monitoring daily the symptoms via SMS for all in-home quarantine suspected and probable cases, and send daily reminders on health protocols. In addition, health coaches and doctor volunteers from the Philippine Medical Association will triage both the symptomatic and identified COVID depending on the symptom and co-morbidities and consequently, make referrals to hospitals or quarantine facilities managed by the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (BHERTS) whenever necessary.

Capable of operating and responding remotely, the system is accessible to individuals with cellphones, with or without Internet, across all network service providers. This also enables the system to do away with face-to-face contact between health workers and the enrollees of the program. “The services provided can help patients, their families and close contacts manage mild COVID-19 cases at home. This way, they could receive timely medical advice and help contain the spread of COVID-19. At the same time, hospitals and healthcare facilities will not be burdened for cases that could be managed at home while those in need of hospitalization can be given proper attention,” said PMA President Dr. Benito Atienza.

With analytics in place, the system is able to provide data real time per barangay, per district and citywide that is made available and accessible 24/7. As a result, “the local government can monitor if there’s a sudden surge in cases in a certain area, in any given time. And this makes for sound decisions where resources will be allocated and utilized,” added Dr. Loysa Orense.

The data that is generated by the BantAI Covid system is very important to guide our medical experts and policymakers in crafting strategies in dealing with the containment of the spread of Covid-19.   “The analytics that the BantAI COVID has is a first in the world. It is very extensive” said Atty. Bu Castro, Ethic Committee, Philippine Medical Association

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