The Health Ministry in collaboration with the Health Informatics Society of Sri Lanka (HISSL) and the Commonwealth Centre for Digital Health (CWCDH) has introduced a smartphone application called “Self Shield” that helps to keep track of health and detect some of the Early Symptoms of COVID-19.
In addition to general COVID-related symptoms, this App can keep track of users’ lung health by detecting changes in their breathing sounds – potentially identifying complications early.
The App does not diagnose COVID-19 but helps to decide when to contact a doctor.
The App also allows users to enter the ‘Ministry of Health’s COVID-19’ programme to automatically share test data with the Ministry of Health medical team. The medical team will evaluate these test reports through automated procedures and provide the necessary services to users who need immediate medical attention.
The Self Shield app was developed by a team of Sri Lankan physicians and software engineers under the supervision of the HISSL and CWCDH. It was first released in July 2020 and is now available through Google and Apple App Stores. To download the app, go to the relevant app and type ‘Self Shield’ and find the app.
Then, the app needs to be installed on the smartphone. The user must be registered to secure the account. This registration method ensures the privacy and security of the user.