The World Health Organization (WHO) has collaborated with WhatsApp and Facebook to instantly share all relevant COVID-19 information directly to users. The service had already accumulated over 10 million users in just four days after its release.
The initiative which was originally launched in March 2020 in English, is now available in Arabic, French, Hindi, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese. It has the potential to serve more than 2 billion people who will receive reliable information and updates on the pandemic.
The messaging service, which is still available for service can be accessed through a link that opens a conversation on WhatsApp or by sending “hi” to the designated WhatsApp number for the language choice. Once a conversation is activated, users can access a menu of options that can help answer their questions about COVID-19.
WHO Health Alert on WhatsApp
Interested users can still use the following information to access the messaging service and receive the WHO’s Health Alert in their preferred language.
Arabic: Send “مرحبا” to +41 22 501 70 23 on WhatsApp
English: Send “hi” to +41 79 893 18 92 on WhatsApp
Hindi: Send “नमस्ते” to +41 22 501 73 41 on WhatsApp
https://wa.me/41225017341?text=नमस्ते
Bengali: https://wa.me/41798931892?text=ওহে
Urdu: https://wa.me/41798931892?text=ہیلو
French: Send “salut” to +41 22 501 72 98 on WhatsApp
Italian: Send “ciao” to +41 22 501 78 34 on WhatsApp
https://wa.me/41225017834?text=ciao
Spanish: Send “hola” to +41 22 501 76 90 on WhatsApp
Portuguese: Send “oi” to +41 22 501 77 35 on WhatsApp
Kiswahili: https://wa.me/41798931892?text=habari
Somali: https://wa.me/41798931892?text=haye
WHO Health Alert on Viber
WHO had also built a “WHO Interactive Chatbot” on Rakuten Viber (Viber App) which provides accurate information about the pandemic to the users. The service was launched in English, Russian and Arabic with more languages expected to be added later. Interested users can join the WHO Viber service by visiting: https://vb.me/82e535
