Women’s health chatbot with messaging on breast cancer launched

The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a new interactive chatbot on women’s health. The first set of messages to be included relates to breast cancer, in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, observed in October every year.

The new chatbot, which uses the Viber platform to deliver health information directly to subscribers’ mobile phones, is the latest in a series. Previous chatbots disseminated information on COVID-19, mental health and smoking cessation.

People subscribing to the new chatbot will find information on how to reduce the risk of breast cancer, symptoms and treatment options. Initially launched in English, Greek, Hungarian, Russian and Ukrainian, the chatbot will also soon be available in other languages too. Colourful stickers with supportive slogans are also available on the platform for sharing.

Recognizing the importance of initiatives such as this one in equipping people with the knowledge that enables them to take better care of their health, Dr Bente Mikkelsen, Director of the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases at the World Health Organization said: “I am delighted to see this new initiative to better inform women about breast cancer, now the most common form of cancer worldwide. Knowing what to look for and when to seek care can literally save lives.”

Messaging on other women’s health issues is expected to be launched on the platform in the coming months.