dtac partners to create SMS alert system for public health sector

Dtac Corporate Responsibility has partnered with the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, Google.org, Open Dream Co. Ltd., InSTEDD and ChangeFusion to introduce the first-ever, mobile phone-based text messaging service for the public health disease surveillance systems in Thailand.

This new SMS warning is part of the current GEO Chat program, a specially developed program for early warnings and alerts for the public health sector in Thailand. GEO Chat deploys communications through the Internet and the mobile phone messaging system, allowing instant updates on H1N1, for example, in different parts of the country.

With both GEO Chat and SMS communication, the public health offices in remote regions of Thailand are better able to access and share health information. As a part of this cooperation, dtac has distributed SIM cards to public health officials. They can use these SIM cards in their mobile phones to report on the influenza situation directly to the Department of Disease Control.

“Dtac has solid experience in using ICT solutions for social development, such as our program to send useful information to farmers via SMS. This same way of sending and sharing information can be applied to the disease surveillance system and the public health warning system in Thailand,” said Perapong Klinla-or, Vice President and Head of Corporate Responsibility.

Dtac’s partnership to use SMS to spread disease-related information is particularly geared towards fighting the latest outbreaks of H1N1. The GEO Chat and SMS system are now being implemented in two pilot projects, in the areas of Mukdahan and Chian Rai. Currently, local health officials are participating in workshops in order to get familiar with the system and use the technology more efficiently. The goal is that health officials will benefit from the rapidity of SMS communication and be able to analyze data in real-time and halt or effectively control a disease outbreak immediately.