Reproductive health chatbot offers teleconsultation services听
PHARMACEUTICAL听COMPANY听Bayer Philippines expanded the features of its Facebook chatbot Ask Mara, which answers women鈥檚 questions about contraceptive options and reproductive health, to provide telemedicine help for those who need expert advice during lockdowns and also locate nearby Mercury Drug, Watsons, Southstar, and Rose Pharmacy drugstores.听听
鈥淎sk Mara can help me get in touch with a doctor, locate the nearest drugstore, and even send me reminders. She gives us options, provides reliable information, and just enables us to make an informed choice,鈥 said Inka P. Magnaye, voice talent and host of podcast Sleeping Pill with Inka, at the online launch of Ask Mara鈥檚 new features.听听
For Filipino women, this kind of easy access to the right information and support can help in making informed reproductive health choices, she added, speaking as someone with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal syndrome that used to give her cramps, mood swings, migraines, and depression. These stopped when she started taking contraceptive pills.听听
Knowledgeable patients result in better health outcomes as well, according to Dr. Marie Michelle A. Dado, a fellow of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society.听听
鈥淚n this pandemic where it can be difficult to get in touch with doctors and find options for contraceptive and reproductive health, these new features help take some of the worry out for women and let us focus on ourselves, on work and our family,鈥 she said.听听
MAKING INFORMED CHOICES
According to the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM), family planning services decreased by over 50% in March of 2020 due to limited staff at reproductive clinics.听听
To address this, the commission set up hotlines for remote medical consultations and home delivery of birth control supplies, said Undersecretary Juan Antonio A. Perez III, POPCOM听executive听director, in a statement.听听听
They also worked with the Department of Health听and the United States Agency for International Development to integrate age-appropriate sex education in the K-12 curriculum and听听for responsible parenthood.听听
Mr. Perez highlighted the need for solutions from all sectors:听鈥淲hile we have since built up systems for women to gain access to health services through a variety of channels, we need innovative solutions from both private and public sectors that champion women鈥檚 reproductive health choices and empower women to make informed choices.鈥澨
Jillian Q. Gatcheco-Cantada,听reproductive rights advocate听and听former editor-in-chief of听Cosmopolitan Philippines, echoed the importance of having options.听听
鈥淚t鈥檚 great that Ask Mara is there as a friendly resource for Filipinas who want on-demand advice about contraception and reproductive health,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 accessible, expert-driven, and most importantly non-judgmental.鈥澨
The pill reminder feature, which ensures that women don鈥檛 miss their pill for the day, is also useful.听听
Those who want to explore different methods of contraception, such as condoms and intrauterine devices, can get information from the chatbot as well.听听
To chat with Ask Mara, visit听.听鈥斕Bront毛 H. Lacsamana听
