At the end of April 2021, the 4th wave of COVID-19 broke out and quickly spread to many localities with many sources of infection. Many outbreaks happened at the same time along with the appearance of many new strains, spreading quicker, wider and stronger. The number of new infections continuously increased, infiltrating industrial zones and hospitals. Only in Viet Yen district, Bac Giang province has a total of 7,000 F1 cases and 12,000 F2 cases. Therefore, the first priority task of the country is to screen high-risk cases in order to proactively localize the epidemic and avoid spreading in the community.

With the mission to bring artificial intelligence into healthcare, VinBrain volunteered to step onto the front lines to fight the epidemic with a free chest X-ray program to detect COVID-19 early to quickly localize high-risk cases and avoid cross-contamination of F1s in the isolated areas of Ho Chi Minh City and Bac Giang, at the same time help detect cases of underlying lung diseases (this is very meaningful because F1 cases with underlying diseases are often more vunerable to infection and once infected with COVID-19, the disease can get worse quickly). The program uses DrAid™ software - an artificial intelligence (AI) product capable of screening 21 abnormalities and diseases of the Lungs - Heart - Bones, including COVID-19 developed by VinBrain.

Three members of the SWAT team in Bac Giang

Two SWAT were quickly established with the volunteering of staffs from different departments, combined with volunteers from Vinmec and the Association of Optoelectronics and Medical Technology and Vietnam Nuclear University, going directly into the two epidemic centers of Bac Giang and Ho Chi Minh City to take free chest X-rays for F1s, using vehicles and mobile X-ray machines. 

In Bac Giang, the program went to 24 isolation wards in key epidemic and high-risk areas of the province, and helped detect 624 cases with abnormalities (including suspected COVID-19, underlying lung diseases such as COVID-19, suspected tuberculosis, other lung injuries, cardiovascular disease).

In Ho Chi Minh City, the program was successfully implemented at concentrated isolation centers in the dormitories of some major universities in the city, helping to warn 590 cases of abnormalities (including suspected COVID-19, suspected tuberculosis, other pulmonary abnormalities, cardiovascular disease). By making positive contributions to the prevention of COVID-19 infection and the prognosis of treatment for cases with underlying lung and heart diseases, the program was approved by the leaders of the City Health Department of Ho Chi Minh City, Medical Association of Ho Chi Minh City.

Where there was F0s, there was our SWAT teams

Leaders of Bac Giang province also highly appreciated the social significance of the program. Mr. Nguyen Hong Duc - Standing Deputy Secretary of Viet Yen District Party Committee, Bac Giang shared: "The epidemic is still very complicated, requiring high concentration of effort and manpower. In the process of controlling the epidemic, it is very important to screen and detect COVID-infected and high-risk subjects to actively prevent the spread of the disease. We are very excited to welcome Vingroup's program to Bac Giang, to Viet Yen, to help Viet Yen using new technology - artificial intelligence in screening and early detection of high-risk cases from F1 to F0, screening for underlying lung diseases for F1. This is very important, helping us to have a basis to assess epidemiological factors, make timely decisions and ensure effective epidemic prevention."