Fighting COVID-19 with technology

By Ermin Garcia Jr.

 

THERE is a chance for our country to defeat COVID-19. It is not so much about the vaccine and treatment as much as stopping its contagion, the exponential spread of the virus!

This is the very reason why we are all initially asked to stay home and to observe every protocol set by our government.

But if our pasaway culture (disobeying rules/law and getting away with it) is not enough making it difficult for our government to achieve our goal, our medical facilities for virus detection are antiquated – swabbing noses and throats and 3-5 days wait for results of analysis (because of volume of requested tests) can never catch up with the speed delaying.

Hopefully, the PNP can solve the pasaway factor with dramatic results – to strictly enforce quarantine and curfew.

*          *          *          *          *

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIP.  Now, let’s consider the other factor – medical support. In our editorial this week, we cited an offer of Huawei Technology to hospitals in the country to use its Artificial Intelligence (AI) solution, the same technology that helped China control the spread of COVID -19. 

 The Huawei technology being offered for FREE to our hospitals is the latest in AI on medicine. It offers almost instant analysis that will tell the person whether he is infected with COVID -19 virus or not, and to what degree of infection has set in. 

 No waiting for days in suspense, while held in forced quarantine.

*          *          *          *          *

SAVING PANGASINENSES. With this system, no one else has to die without knowing what killed them. I grieve for the two Pangasinenses who died even before the results of their tests could be released to them. If they had perhaps known at least 5 days earlier what ailed them, they would surely been given the chance to survive with precise immediate treatment. Without the analysis in their doctor’s hands, our hospitals are left with no choice but to apply treatment the shotgun way.

In sum, the earlier our government is able to identify carriers or infected persons, the earlier we can help stop and contain the transmission. This was precisely the strategy of China that enabled it to be the first country to successfully control and mange the contagion. Today, China is leading the way in extending help, sharing its successful strategy to us, Italy, to Middle East, etc.  The strategy included use of Huawei’s system.

I actually recommend this system to our elected officials if they want to be tested.  This way they don’t have to invoke priority to use the scarce test kits and still get the information within minutes, without risk of incurring the ire of the public.

If Gov. Pogi Espino agrees to work with Huawei’s technology, Pangasinan may yet be the first province in the country to reap the benefits of this for its people. (The cities of Baguio, Pasig and Marikina have already adopted it). An added value that Pangasinan will have is the support of Bitstop’s Wilson Chua. He’s willing to provide the server to support this project.

*          *          *          *          *

IMAGING EVOLVES.  What is worrisome though about the offer of Huawei is the decision of the Philippine College of Radiology to campaign against it.

 It wrote a memo to DOH saying that the medical sector should stick to the present old system of swabbing and analysis of testing in laboratories. Duh?

 It cited the need for more resources to operate CT scan.

 Why would anyone want to insist on using a carabao to till a land when a tractor can finish the job in more than half the time and more efficiently that it will take a carabao to cover? 

 Instead of blocking what is good for the medical sector, the group should look at opportunities that would offer our radiologists to level up and upgrade on their skills that will be most valuable in the next generation.

 We cannot turn back the hands of time. Like the media, we were born with newspaper, radio and black and white movie… then telephone, then came along TV…. color TV and movies… cable TV… then internet came along… and the rest is history.

 The science of radiology has already evolved. It behooves the PCR therefore, to accept this trend and explore how radiologists can advance with technology.  

 Not block technology where it can.

*          *          *          *          *

QUARANTINED POLITICS. The lockdown we are seeing around us today is something never seen before, not even throughout martial law.

More than the quarantine being asked of residents, which to some seem meaningless today, it is needed for local governments to make it purposeful.  If the leadership of a local government cannot see the purpose and translate it to achieve the goal – to stop the contagion – all this will be in vain. Many will die.

The quarantine will serve no purpose if the local government does not do its part – to prepare adequately to provide for the needs of the quarantined populace. It’s important that the mayors see through the motivation and purpose behind the move of President Duterte shepherding the Balikbayan Act, if we are to defeat COVID-19.

What will destroy it? If the mayor chooses to use the crisis as an opportunity to boost his/her hold on his/her political base, reserving and distributing the best relief goods for supporters, leaving crumbs to others.

And if the local executive cannot see through the determination of the President to defeat COVID-19, that mayor’s political dream will be quarantined for a long, long time.

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments