One woman dies needlessly every ninety seconds from cervical cancer somewhere in the world. In Africa, the hardest hit region, some 80,600 women are taken from their families by this insidious and invisible disease each year. We can change this.

Women are often in the dark and unaware of the potential to be infected by the human papillomavirus (HPV). It is not common knowledge that the infection shows no signs and takes decades to develop into a cancer. Women are not informed about the need for regular screening which is a simple and effective way to catch the virus before it causes damage. They also don’t know that a vaccine can protect their young girls from being infected in the first place. 

Cancer is still a taboo subject and cervical cancer is pretty much unfamiliar territory. It's a cancer but also an infectious disease transmitted through sexual intercourse. Just asking about it may make some women feel vulnerable, experience shame or be fearful of the reaction of their friends and family. 

The 'Let's Chat' tool, co-created by SI Dubai and SI Nairobi Central, gives women a safe space to ask the questions they may not dare ask face-to-face.  The digital conversational tool is enabled by AI technology using natural language processing to understand voice-based or text-based human conversations. The tool can distinguish between similar questions and provide the correct answer. The answer never changes – it’s always a factual and accurate reply.

The aim is to spread awareness about the need for screening and vaccination with the objective to increase knowledge, dispel myths and ultimately increase the uptake of preventative strategies to avoid cervical cancer.  It will also guide women to seek medical care if experiencing symptoms, leading to earlier detection and a better chance of successful treatment. 

Ultimately, the 'Let's Chat' tool will contribute to saving lives and help countries reach the WHO elmination targets of 90% of girls vaccinated by age 15, 70% of women get high-quality cervical cancer screening and 90% of women preenting a lesion get access to treatment.