The Department of Health-Abu Dhabi (DoH) on Sunday launched a 'free-to-use' Covid-19 Home Isolation Program Smart Service on its verified WhatsApp business channel in a bid to bolster the administration's fight against the pandemic. The service has been launched by DoH in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Public Health Center.

The newly-launched automated “Chatbot” service will be providing all relevant and up-to-date information about the pandemic transmission to patients enrolling in the program. Through the 24/7 service, the citizens will be able to get answers to all their questions about the virus and home isolation recommendations from the DoH.

Speaking about the smart service, Dr. Jamal Mohammaed Al Kaabi, acting under-secretary of the DoH Abu Dhabi, asserted that with the help of the service, the department strives to employ all possible means to support the patients in the health crisis. He went on to state that the department aims to provide the patients and the wider community with reliable and timely healthcare services to keep them safe and healthy.

"We continue to focus our efforts on the current health crisis to curb the spread of Covid-19 and maintain the health and wellbeing of all members of the community," said Dr. Jamal Mohammaed Al Kaabi.

Facebook MENA's Managing Director RamezShehadi added that people have been using social networking apps such as WhatsApp now more than ever during such difficult times to stay connected with others.

“At difficult times like these, people use WhatsApp more than ever to connect with and support their friends, family, and communities," the Facebook MENA (the Middle East and North Africa) boss added.

How to use the service

People are required to save the number +97124193399 in their phone contacts and text the word 'Hi' in a WhatsApp message to start using the free Covid-19 home isolation program smart service. The user can choose from a set of menu options presented to them in the service, following which the DoH Abu Dhabi will start sending relevant guidance to them.

The UAE official news agency WAM reported that the DoH WhatsApp Business API has been built on using the NovomindiAGENT digital platform from WhatsApp Business Solution Providers, as said by Hossam Amer, Novomind Managing Director in the MENA.

Earlier this month, the Health Department introduced the ‘National Registry for COVID-19‘ platform to support the research and development in the battle against the novel Coronavirus pandemic. The unified platform, launched in collaboration with the Advanced Technology Research Council, will help in facilitating scientific discoveries required in understanding and combating the virus and will provide real-time updates about the pandemic transmission.