At the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) in Qatar, the World Health Organization and Qatar Ministry of Health launched the AI-powered WHO Digital Health Worker, Florence version 2.0, an innovative and interactive platform for sharing a variety of health topics in seven languages.
In addition to providing advice on mental health, Florence can provide tips on de-stressing, eating well, exercising, and quitting tobacco and e-cigarettes. Besides providing information about COVID-19 vaccines, she can also assist with other vaccinations. The English version of Florence 2.0 is now available, followed by Arabic, French, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, and Russian.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Florence has been fighting misinformation. Mental health has been affected significantly by the pandemic. A mental disorder affects one out of every eight people in the world. Every year, tobacco and unhealthy diet kill 16 million people, while physical inactivity kills an estimated 830 000 people. The right support can prevent and control diseases like cancer, heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes that cause these deaths.
“Digital technology plays a critical role in helping people worldwide lead healthier lives,” said Andy Pattison, WHO’s Team Lead for Digital Channels. “The AI health worker Florence is a shining example of the potential to harness technology to promote and protect people’s physical and mental health. At WISH, we aim to meet with visionary partners to continue to improve this cutting-edge technology. AI can help fill gaps in health information that exist in many communities around the world.”