Project background In recent years, the world has witnessed the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused significant loss of life and economic disruptions across nations. As one of the most effective tools for identifying COVID-19, chest X-rays have played a crucial role in diagnosing and monitoring the progression of the disease. However, the manual interpretation of these images by healthcare professionals can be time-consuming and subjective, often leading to delays in diagnosis and potential errors.
In addition to COVID-19, there are numerous other respiratory and chest-related diseases that require accurate and timely detection, such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, and lung cancer. Early detection of these diseases is vital for effective treatment and improved patient outcomes. Unfortunately, healthcare systems in many parts of the world, including Myanmar, face resource constraints, limited access to specialized expertise, and a lack of sophisticated diagnostic tools. These challenges hinder the timely detection and appropriate management of respiratory diseases, leading to increased morbidity and mortality rates.
To address these critical issues, the Omdena Myanmar Chapter has initiated the “Identifying Diseases in Chest X-Rays & COVID-19 Detection” project. The goal is to leverage deep learning techniques to develop an automated system capable of accurately detecting COVID-19 and various chest-related diseases from radiographic images. By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and computer vision, this project aims to revolutionize the diagnostic process and facilitate early intervention, ultimately saving lives and improving healthcare outcomes.
The Problem The problem we aim to solve through this project is two-fold. Firstly, the lack of accessible and reliable diagnostic tools for chest diseases, including COVID-19, hampers timely detection and intervention, which can lead to the rapid spread of the disease and its associated complications. Secondly, the scarcity of specialized healthcare professionals, particularly radiologists, in many parts of Myanmar, exacerbates the problem by limiting the availability of accurate and prompt diagnoses.
Our local community faces the burden of inadequate healthcare infrastructure and limited resources, which further amplifies the impact of these challenges. Early detection of COVID-19 and other chest diseases is crucial for effective treatment and preventing the spread of the virus. By deploying an AI-powered solution capable of accurately analyzing chest X-rays and identifying diseases, we can make a significant positive impact on the healthcare landscape of Myanmar, Asian countries, and people around the world.
The deep learning model we develop will enable healthcare providers, including general practitioners and healthcare workers in remote areas, to quickly identify diseases in chest X-rays. By reducing the dependence on scarce human resources and improving the efficiency of diagnoses, our solution will enhance the overall quality of healthcare services. Moreover, the availability of a reliable and accessible diagnostic tool will empower medical professionals to make informed decisions and provide timely treatments, potentially saving lives and mitigating the spread of diseases within the community. The productivity of our product will increase as much as the support we receive, as our model is greatly dependent on the support of data.
Through the development of a web app or mobile app, we aim to make this solution widely accessible beyond our local community, reaching healthcare providers globally. By democratizing access to advanced diagnostic capabilities, we strive to contribute to the global fight against COVID-19 and other chest diseases, fostering a healthier future for individuals worldwide.
Contribution Guidelines
Have a Look at the project structure and folder overview below to understand where to store/upload your contribution
If you're creating a task, Go to the task folder and create a new folder with the below naming convention and add a README.md with task details and goals to help other contributors understand
Task Folder Naming Convention : task-n-taskname.(n is the task number) ex: task-1-data-analysis, task-2-model-deployment etc.
Create a README.md with a table containing information table about all contributions for the task.
If you're contributing for a task, please make sure to store in relavant location and update the README.md information table with your contribution details.
Make sure your File names(jupyter notebooks, python files, data sheet file names etc) has proper naming to help others in easily identifing them.
Please restrict yourself from creating unnessesary folders other than in 'tasks' folder (as above mentioned naming convention) to avoid confusion.
Project Structure
├── LICENSE
├── README.md <- The top-level README for developers/collaborators using this project.
├── original <- Original Source Code of the challenge hosted by omdena. Can be used as a reference code for the current project goal.
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├── reports <- Folder containing the final reports/results of this project
│ └── README.md <- Details about final reports and analysis
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├── src <- Source code folder for this project
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├── data <- Datasets used and collected for this project
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├── docs <- Folder for Task documentations, Meeting Presentations and task Workflow Documents and Diagrams.
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├── references <- Data dictionaries, manuals, and all other explanatory references used
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├── tasks <- Master folder for all individual task folders
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├── visualizations <- Code and Visualization dashboards generated for the project
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└── results <- Folder to store Final analysis and modelling results and code.
Folder Overview
Original - Folder Containing old/completed Omdena challenge code.
Reports - Folder to store all Final Reports of this project
Data - Folder to Store all the data collected and used for this project
Docs - Folder for Task documentations, Meeting Presentations and task Workflow Documents and Diagrams.
References - Folder to store any referneced code/research papers and other useful documents used for this project
Tasks - Master folder for all tasks
All Task Folder names should follow specific naming convention
All Task folder names should be in chronologial order (from 1 to n)
All Task folders should have a README.md file with task Details and task goals along with an info table containing all code/notebook files with their links and information
Update the task-table whenever a task is created and explain the purpose and goals of the task to others.
Visualization - Folder to store dashboards, analysis and visualization reports
Results - Folder to store final analysis modelling results for the project.