A $2.25 million prize has been won by a health-related question-and-answer robot. The South African National Department of Health devised a program called MomConnect that produced the robot. MomConnect use artificial intelligence to respond to SMS questions regarding pregnancy and health. People in South Africa have been able to access health-care information and advice thanks to the initiative.
MomConnect is a program that answers concerns about pregnancy and raising babies over the phone. It began in South Africa and is currently provided in more sub-Saharan African nations as well as Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Timor-Leste.
The robot is a component of a bigger movement to use technology to advance medical treatment. Reach Digital Health uses mobile technologies like SMS and WhatsApp messaging to aid those who can't readily get in touch with a healthcare practitioner in sub-Saharan Africa. One of this year's five $2.25 million Skoll Awards for Social Innovation was just given to the organization.
Technology is also being used by other groups to enhance healthcare. An app that leverages artificial intelligence, for instance, was created by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco to assist persons with chronic pain in managing their symptoms. The software employs machine learning algorithms to forecast a user's likelihood of experiencing discomfort and offers tailored advice for dealing with it.
Technology is being utilized to provide access to healthcare, as well as to help patients manage their symptoms. For instance, in India, the government has started a telemedicine program that enables individuals to video chat with doctors in remote areas. Those who reside distant from medical facilities now have better access to healthcare thanks to the program.
Globally, technology is becoming more and more vital in helping to improve healthcare. There are numerous ways that technology is facilitating people's access to the care they require, from robots that respond to health-related questions to apps that assist individuals in managing chronic pain.
Image by Brian Odwar from Pixabay