The COVID-19 pandemic has caught the world by surprise. Its enigmatic origin and high transmission rate are only a few of the many reasons why this virus is a serious health issue.
In the Philippines, the number of COVID-19 cases has been increasing in the past weeks. This resulted to overcrowding in hospitals, especially in Metro Manila. Given the current situation, the best way is to limit the entry of people who do not need urgent hospital assistance.
That is why volunteer doctors from the Lung Center of the Philippines and other hospitals in Metro Manila organized a Facebook Page/Messenger chatbot that allows people to directly ask or consult doctors about the COVID-19.
The Facebook page, named Lung Center COVID Ask Force also provides detailed answers to frequently asked questions about COVID-19.
The main goal of the project is to decongest the emergency rooms (ER) of hospitals by letting possible patients know whether or not they need immediate medical assistance.
How to access the Lung Center COVID Ask Force Facebook Page/Messenger bot
You may access it by going to it Facebook Page at Lung Center COVID Ask Force, and click ‘Send Message’.
Another option is to go directly through this link so that you can quickly get into a Messenger conversation.
Who may use the Facebook Page and Messenger bot?
What’s even great about the Lung Center COVID Ask Force messenger bot is that it is accessible to anyone.
Even if you live inside or outside of Metro Manila as long as you own a smartphone and an internet, you may use the chatbot. Plus, it uses Tagalog so that people may understand it better.
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What services are provided by the Lung Center COVID Ask Force?
There are two services that the Facebook Messenger chatbot provides.
1.) First, you may use it if you want to consult a doctor online for FREE. Through this, you will be able to talk to a real doctor via chat. It’s like talking to your doctor but you just have to do it through Facebook messenger.
Unfortunately, online consultation is only from 8AM to 11AM and 7PM to 10PM every day. So if you want to make use of it, just message around those specified times.
2.) Second, you may use it if you want to ask more general novel coronavirus COVID-19 related concerns. The questions involve topics about COVID-19, COVID-19 testing, protection, and medication.
Once you click any of those topics, you’ll then be provided with frequently asked questions. Since it’s a bot and not a real person, the answers are automatic. What’s also great is it provides detailed instructions and explanations.
In this regard, questions relating to coronavirus are available anytime.
Who are the doctors you will be talking to or consulting with?
You’ll be talking to licensed doctors from the Lung Center of the Philippines and other hospitals in Metro Manila. They are all volunteer doctors who are doing this without charging anything.
The Lung Center COVID Ask Force is available for FREE. If in an unfortunate circumstance you think you need to go to the hospital, assess first if it’s necessary.
You may make use of this Facebook bot to help our health workers and the community as well. For now, please stay at home as much as possible.
Kudos to all our frontliners. Padayon!