For the first time in Kyrgyzstan, a mobile application is launched for teenage girls about growing up and health

BISHKEK, January 27, 2023 – ‘Oky’ is the first mobile application aimed at managing health that has been created for girls and with girls from different countries, including Kyrgyzstan. The mobile application was originally developed by UNICEF’s Asia-Pacific Regional Office, and it enables girls to take control of their menstrual cycle.

The “Oky” app is an innovative solution that helps to eliminate taboos, stigmatization, debunks myths and misconceptions about the menstrual cycle, and fills the gap in quality information related to girls’ reproductive health. This will allow girls who use the application to reduce risks to their health and receive reliable answers to their questions.

“UNICEF is always looking for traditional and innovative ways to help children cope with the challenges they face. Earlier, we released a story about Akylai, which helps growing children to learn what menstruation is in a simple, easy way. Now, together with the Open Line Public Foundation, we have adapted the ‘Oky’ mobile application, which will help to dispel the fears and rumours that scare girls,” said Christine Jaulmes, UNICEF Representative in Kyrgyzstan.

The mobile application takes into account the digital realities of the regions (internet speed and the availability of different models of mobile device) and helps to increase the digital literacy of girls, informing them about growing up, changes in the body, puberty and reproductive health.

Munara Beknazarova, Director of the Open Line Public Foundation, spoke about the benefits of the application: “Oky functions are available as applications on Android and in the App Store, and include individual cycle calendars, a chat bot with an older sister, and an encyclopaedia that contains useful information about girls growing up.”

Key features of “Oky” include:

• A gamified design for adolescent girls (aged 10-19 years)
• Avatars and a personalized interface
• A calendar to track the menstrual cycle
• Evidence-based information in girl-friendly and entertaining language
• Quizzes and polls
• Chatbot
• Bonuses in the form of a grown flower that can be shared on social networks.

‘Oky’ also has several playful and engaging features geared towards girls: they can personalize the app, choose their own avatars and backgrounds, and participate in reproductive health quizzes. To reach as many girls across the country as possible, the app is offline, takes up little space on mobile devices, is designed to run on low-cost smartphones, is compatible with older software, and is completely free.

The application can be downloaded from Play Market and AppStore. More information about the project is on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oky_kyrgyzstan/