Health Dept’s mobile app a hit among teenagers

Manav Mander
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, November 16

Teenagers and adolescents find mobile application ‘Saathiya Salah’ useful as “it helps solve various problems which they otherwise do not feel comfortable to share with anyone.”

However, several users say the language is a barrier for using the application — since the app is only in Hindi and not in English. 

The app, which was launched by the Health Department as a part of the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK), introduces the peer educators to users, who help solve the problems faced by adolescents.

The mobile app is also connected to a toll-free helpline — 1800-233-1250 — which acts as an e-counsellor. 

“Technology has been put to use and those adolescents who can not interact with their friends and family can access the information through the app and the toll-free helpline,” said an official from the Health Department.

A 13-year-old girl says the app is very useful, but is available only in Hindi. “I am not fluent in Hindi and this acts as a hindrance,” she said.

Another Class IX student from a city-based school said he found the app useful and he uses the helpline also. “Sometimes, language does act as a barrier but I overcome it with the help of online dictionary,” he said. 

App priorities 

• Nutrition 
• Sexual and reproductive health
• Non-communicable diseases 
• Substance misuse 
• Injuries and violence (including gender based violence)
• Mental Health 

The mobile app is connected to a toll-free helpline — 1800-233-1250 — which acts as an e-counsellor.