Tawi-Tawi, BARMM — The Ministry of Science and Technology – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MOST-BARMM), in partnership with the Ministry of Health (MOH), turned over a total of nine (9) RxBox devices in the province on February 21-24, 2022.
The selected RHUs Head Unit graced it, Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO), Ministry of Health – Research and Development Unit, Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC) – Tawi-Tawi, MOST-BARMM RxBox Team together with the Technical Management Division’s Chief.
The purpose of the activity is to deploy RxBox devices intended for the use of selected Rural Health Units (RHUs) to capture and monitor patients’ health-related concerns. The patient does not need to go physically to the hospital, but with the help of this device, basic health monitoring concerns would be performed by health workers in the RHUs area. It provides an efficient way for the latter to monitor patients with multiple problems at once.
The RxBox device is a real quality life experience in a telemedicine box. It is a multi-component program that captures real-time health data from the patients. It comprises medical sensors such as a blood pressure monitor, pulse oximeter, electrocardiogram (ECG), fetal heart monitor, maternal tocometer, and temperature sensor connected to a touch-screen tablet. The touch-screen tablet is programmed to collect patients’ health data from the built-in medical sensors attached to the device. The health data appears real-time on the tablet screen once a patient is examined through the sensors, hence the real quality life experience in a box. It also has an Electronic Medical Record (EMR), storing and referring clients’ medical records via the internet to doctors and health specialists seeking consultation and medical advice.
In his statement, Engr, Abdulwahid M. Sendad, MOST-BARMM Chief TMD, said that this activity results from the rigorous research and development in response to the needs of the health sector in the country. The device will benefit the Bangsamoro people with little to no access to life-saving devices.
“These devices are the fruit of rigorous health research and development of the brightest mind in the country headed by UP-Manila National Telehealth Center. They have done their part and the ball is to pass unto us. These devices will be beneficial for the Bangsamoro. Let this be our response to their needs,” Engr. Sendad said.
IPHO Tawi-Tawi is the first province to receive the said devices in the region of BARMM for 2022. The nine (9) devices were the first batch delivered by DOST IV-A (Project Leader), with the remaining sixty-six (66) devices that are yet to be delivered and disseminated to selected rural health units in the Bangsamoro region. These devices are strategically identified to be deployed in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.
In his message, Dr. Andrew Mar De Vergara, Provincial Health Officer I (PHO I), said that these devices would provide great help to the province of Tawi-Tawi, especially the health care provider of the area.
“I just like to capitalize on the message of Engr. Sendad, TMD Chief of MOST that the ball is in the hand of the end user of these amazing devices. The RHUs, the recipient of the RxBox are the end-user and as the end-user, we have now the privilege of what to do with this opportunity. We have to make a score with the opportunity given to us. The score we have to achieve is the services we provide for the bangsamoro people and make universal health care available to all.” Dr. Vergara said.
The IPHO and RHUs of Tawi-Tawi province had expressed their gratitude to the DOST National office, and the Bangsamoro Government through the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) for the RxBox devices deployed to their area.
AOM-ICS, R&D