Innovative AI Chatbot app for people with haemophilia launched in Dakar-Senegal

Innovative AI Chatbot app for people with haemophilia launched in Dakar-Senegal

Innovative AI Chatbot app for people with haemophilia launched in Dakar-Senegal

People living with haemophilia in Senegal can now access information and advice about bleeding disorders via a new application integrating a chatbot and powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Officially launched on World Haemophilia Day, 17 April 2022, in Dakar, Senegal, the new app allows users to access educational content on haemophilia in two local languages, Wolof and French. Users can obtain advice on first aid to be given in the event of an emergency, for example, along with data on the nearest health centre.

Around 70 people attended the World Haemophilia Day celebration and AI-Chatbot launch event, including people with haemophilia and their families, representatives from the Ministry of Health, the National Blood Center of Dakar (CNTS), World Federation of Hemophilia (WHF), and members of the media.

(from right to left) Dr Anta Sar, Dr Diariatou Sy (CNTS), Prof Saliou Diop, Dr Malick Anne, representative of the Ministry of Health, Abdoulaye Loum President of the Association Sénégalaise des Hémophiles (ASH) and Dr Cheikh Niang, WFH Regional officer, sharing knowledge about haemophilia with attendees of the World Haemophilia Day celebrative event.

The project is the brainchild of Awa Babington-Ashaye, PhD student and scientific consultant, who developed the idea with support from Prof Antoine Geissbühler, Head of the eHealth and Telemedicine Department of the University Hospital of Geneva. Data was developed in collaboration with the patient organisation in Dakar, ‘Association Sénégalaise des Hémophiles’ (ASH) and guidance from Prof Philippe de Moerloose, Prof Saliou Diop, Dr Diariatou Sy and Dr Aissatou Touré.

“It has been a real team effort and I am extremely grateful for the support that allowed us to launch our ‘Saytù Hemophilie’ chatbot on World Haemophilia Day. So far the feedback has been very positive and we’ve received some interesting suggestions,” said Mrs Babington-Ashaye. “We continue our efforts to improve this solution in the hope that it will be an enabler to improve disease knowledge and quality of life for people with haemophilia in Senegal.”

Awa Babington-Ashaye presenting the ‘Saytù Hémophilie’ app to the media covering the launch event.

In parallel to the launch, focus groups for people with haemophilia and their families took place in the cities of Dakar, Saint Louis, Thiès and Louga with more than 60 participants in total. These sessions provided precious feedback on the app for improvements and future adaptations.

The AI-Chatbot project was made possible thanks to close collaboration between the different parties, the HUG Private Foundation and with the financial support of the Novo Nordisk Haemophilia Foundation (NNHF).
The “Saytù Hémophilie” app will soon be available on the Apple Store and Google Play.
Learn more

Watch a video introduction (in French)