A NEW initiative by a group of local software developers, who are volunteering their time and skills, is now helping many Guyanese who are affected by the COVID-19 (Coronavirus 2019) pandemic to access help.

The new app, CARE.GY, was produced by the very group that created the Ministry of Public Health’s Covid-19 app that seeks to help that agency manage its hotline information.
The new app, according to lead developer, Julius Simon, is divided into three sections: one for people to indicate that they or someone who needs help, another for donations, and the third for those who distribute to record which communities they are going to and how much they plan to distribute.

“Our team would really like to involve everyone who’s helping with relief efforts,” Simon told the Chronicle on Thursday, adding, “The same night we launched the MOPH app, my former Head of Department at GRA, Sese Jones, mentioned this idea to me and indicated that we should work on it since we have a platform in production already.”
According to Simon, aid is being provided by organisations which are already on the ground providing help; they are now able to get information about which areas have critically vulnerable persons.

The data being collected via the new app is also going to be shared with the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and other agencies which are providing aid across the country.
The donors are not listed and any donations made are only visible to the organisations to which the donation was made. “Once a donation is made, they’re notified and then communicated with the donor to facilitate collection of the donation. We also only share publicly summarized information about communities,” Simon explained. Only the donors who are registered can see individual requests.

The app is able to benefit those in vulnerable communities by connecting them to individuals willing to help, companies, and relief coordinators. “Because we’re collecting specific information about their needs, those who are willing to donate can see what to focus on and make a contribution to the relief effort,” Simon noted.

In less than a week since the app was made publicly available, it has had over 8,000 visitors and collected data from 80 households. “We have spoken to donors who have reached out on social media, and they’ve made suggestions on how we can improve the donation section of the app. We’re working on that currently,” Simon said.
The new app is different from the COVID Response app, in that it will likely be around after the pandemic and will expand into providing support for mental health and domestic abuse.
As for the previously launched app, over 400 registrations were made during the first 12 hours of its launch. It provides data management and analytics for the MOPH so that the health authority can effectively and efficiently organize the information it receives from hotlines, as well as from hospitals.

Suspected cases are automatically flagged and prioritized for follow up on the app, which also includes a self-screening tool that can be used by the general public. The application further allows for individuals who have been directed to remain isolated, to provide daily updates on their and their family’s health condition.

By means of the app, it is possible for the general public to be in receipt of accurate, timely and relevant reports on COVID cases locally. It can also be used as a source of accurate information about the disease.
The team of developers hails from various tech companies in Guyana, and comprises Anton Kwang, Diante Callender, Troy Munroe, Shemar Moore, and Ryan Goliah.