Advanced Info Service (AIS) has added new features that can help village health volunteers monitor and screen people at risk of contracting the coronavirus in real-time onto the existing Aorsormor online app, a social network platform for the group.
The Aorsormor app was initiated by AIS to support volunteer work in 2015.
The new features involve real-time monitoring and screening tools, part of joint efforts to prevent a second wave of the pandemic.
AIS is also providing "SIM Hero" SIM cards to support the volunteers' work, as well as free insurance for the coronavirus.
AIS chief executive Somchai Lertsutiwong said there are about 1 million village health volunteers across the country and 30% of them are active users of the app.
He said AIS has brought knowledge, expertise and digital tech to enhance Thai public health through the app over the past four years.
More than 41,000 volunteers have downloaded and used the app.
With the new features, the app could help volunteers screen and monitor people at risk of infection in their communities digitally.
Volunteers can record suspected infections and track test results in real-time via their mobile devices.
"As the number of new cases continues to decline, the government has started to ease lockdown measures, but this may risk a second wave of infections," said Mr Somchai.
It is crucial for all sectors to work together to ward off a second wave, he said.
The SIM Hero cards allow volunteers to use the app with unlimited internet data.
The Aorsormor online app by AIS helps volunteers screen and monitor people at risk of infection in their communities in digital forms. *No photo credit*
Phone calls made via the SIM are charged 0.2 baht per second for all networks over the course of one year.
The company also supports free insurance for volunteers, covering those aged 16-85.
With a coverage period of 30 days, compensation for death is 50,000 baht each. Those who contract the virus will be paid 400 baht per day for up to 15 days.
"The latest move follows our vision of bringing the power of the 5G network to support the work of doctors and nurses, as well as helping public health personnel to work and control the spread of the pandemic since last March," said Mr Somchai.
AIS has earmarked more than 177 million baht to support medical personnel dealing with the crisis on the front line.
The company has expanded its 5G signal coverage network to more than 161 hospitals and supplied 23 5G-supported robots for 22 hospitals.
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Thailand has been among the most successful countries at stemming the spread of the coronavirus, partly due to the hard work of village health volunteers across the country.
These volunteers work proactively to detect and screen risk groups in the community, he said.
