Government launches WhatsApp Bot for Covid-19 information

The Ministry of Health has launched a WhatsApp Bot facility which will contain basic information on Covid-19 in an effort to fight the disease.

The Whatsapp number is 0110719719, the platform has an embedded simple-diagnostic tool to provide information on Covid-19 as requested.

A WhatsApp Bot is a chatbot or software program you can use specifically on the popular encrypted messaging app WhatsApp. It enables the user to embark on conversational commerce and manage customer issues.

Speaking while issuing the daily Covid-19 brief at Afya House Monday, Health Chief Administrative Secretary Rashid Aman stated that the bot would provide more information to Kenyans seeking to educate themselves on the Covid-19 disease.

He said the service saves time as it answers questions in real-time and requires data on a person prior to accessing information.

How WhatsApp Bot works

-Save the number on your contact list

-Visit your WhatsApp application

-Start a chat with the saved number and follow instructions

At the same time CAS Aman warned those who have resorted to using herbs seeking prevention or cure for Covid-19 disease.

“I want to caution Kenyans that, these herbs have not been empirically verified or approved by the KEBS, KEMRI or the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, for safety and efficacy,” warned Aman, adding that “consumption of such concoctions can be detrimental to one´s health,” warned Dr Aman.

He appealed to Kenyans to visit designated health facilities for advice.

The CAS announced 28 more positive cases rising the confirmed number of cases in the country to 700.

Aman said the total number of recoveries in the country stand at 251 after 12 more patients were discharged from the hospital.

One more person succumbed to the disease in Nairobi, bringing Kenya’s total fatalities from the virus to 23.

Of the 28 new cases, 10 are from Mombasa, nine from Kajiado, seven from Nairobi and two from Wajir.

The nine cases from Kajiado are all Kenyan truck drivers who were returning from Tanzania and tested at the Namanga border.