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StaySafe.ph an emergency response website that helps gov’t fight COVID-19

April 10, 2020 Uncategorized
A screenshot of the online community-driven social distancing system via an emergency response website, StaySafe.ph (PIA NCR)

As every barangay in the country take appropriate steps against the COVID-19 threat, there has been an increasing emphasis on public health strategies, like social distancing measures and community reporting, to aid the authorities in providing timely and relevant response, thereby helping slow the rate of viral transmission.

But for the authorities to be effective in what they do, they may need to have applicable data and information sources to effectively monitor disease outbreaks and track emerging public health threats in real time at a particular area.

This is where the power of crowdsourcing technology comes in. Because now, there is an online tool, which not only helps people understand the COVID-19 activity in their barangay, but also aids health and disaster experts with early detection and local forecasting.

Presenting the StaySafe.ph, an online community-driven social distancing system via an emergency response website launched recently by leading software solutions company Multisys Technologies Corporation.

What it does is, it allows site visitors to contribute to the fight against COVID-19 by reporting the health conditions of their respective family members without disclosing sensitive information.

In turn, this will help the private sector and local government units (LGUs) attend to immediate assistance needed by employees or locals under their jurisdiction—making it easier to track COVID-19 on a national basis.

What can the public do to help? Upon registration in the emergency response website, users will be requested to record their medical statuses in their household based on the COVID-19 symptoms listed, after which they will be classified as individuals in good health, or experiencing mild symptoms or severe conditions.

The reports submitted will then be added to the “heatmapping” dashboard of the admin, which will visually show the areas with increasing or improving the rate of COVID-19 cases. The admin, whether from the public or private sector, will be notified of the “severe conditions” reported, and will be able to reach out to those who have submitted them.

Site visitors also have an option to help through service (for frontliners, doctors and health workers), donations (cash or goods), and other suggestions and feedback.

MultiSys CEO and founder David Almirol, Jr. said that LGUs and employers around the country can have access to the backend system of the website for free by reaching out to help@staysafe.ph.

“StaySafe.ph is intended to help mitigate risks, especially in vulnerable areas, as authorities will have real-time alerts and easy monitoring of critical situations in their respective communities. During this difficult time, in the time of such pandemic, quick response is crucial, which is why we helped develop this app,” Almirol said, in an interview by a leading national newspaper.

Earlier, MultiSys joined hands with the b2b arm of the PLDT-Smart Group, PLDT Enterprise to whitelist the said website and enable more citizens with access to the platform.

What started out as an initiative by a handful of private and socio civic organizations, now, StaySafe.ph is also being endorsed by the National Task Force COVID19 to aid its efforts in flattening the COVID-19 curve, according to Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Gen. Edgard Arevallo, following a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signing by the NTFCOVID19 with the Department of Health, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Department of National Defense yesterday in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

“StaySafe.ph aims to help persons who intentionally or untintentionally had contacts with COVID19 patients to be given health assistance by the Health Care workers of the national and local governments,” Arevallo told PIA-NCR.

“The system is compliant to laws on securing privacy of individuals,” he said, adding that to protect people’s privacy, no personally identifiable information, like an individual’s location, movement, or contact is made available at any point.

“It’s inspiring how ‘bayanihan’ works, even in our workplace. Our programmers have eagerly worked hard, day and night, to help by developing StaySafe.ph, which we now openly share to all. Together, only with the collective and concerted effort from each of us, we can withstand the COVID-19 pandemic,” Almirol added.

Relatively, MultiSys is also set to launch the mobile application version of StaySafe.ph, which will soon be available for free in Android and iOS. The PLDT-Smart Group will likewise support this initiative by enabling subscribers with free access to the said mobile app.

Clearly, these are extraordinary times and the authorities would want nothing more than get reliable feedback from public health officials, the LGUs, civil society, and the community at large, as these insights will add to other public health information that will, eventually, help people and communities stay safe and healthy. (PIA NCR)

source https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1038544

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