Save the Children, UNICEF and the National Government officially launched the Oky PNG- a groundbreaking period-tracker mobile app for girls on Friday 11th October, coinciding with International Girls Day.
According to Oky Project Manager-Save the Children, Mr. Deanford Nianford, the app is now available on the Google Play Store and the App Store (Apple) as part of a soft launch for in-country testing and feedback, for promotional activities planned in Port Moresby.
Oky is the first period tracking app co-created with girls, for girls aged 10-19 to learn about menstrual hygiene, puberty, personal safety, mental health, referral pathways and other topics important to girls in PNG.
The global app has been tailored to PNG through a partnership between UNICEF PNG, Save the Children and the Government of PNG, with support from the Australian Government. The app is available in both Android and iOS versions.
Dr Edward Waramin, Manager for Population and Family Health Services at the National Department of Health, said sexual and reproductive health is often considered taboo in PNG.
“The National Department of Health is addressing this vital issue through its adolescent-focused programs,” Dr Waramin said.
“We are excited to see how Oky will empower a generation of girls to dream big and take charge of their health and wellbeing,” he added.
Oky PNG has been tailored with input from adolescent girls like 16- year-old Rachel, who said she was 13 when she had her period and couldn’t stop crying.
“I had no idea what was happening, if I had something like Oky back then, it would have made such a difference. Now, I want to share the information on Oky with girls in my community,” Rachel said.
The Oky PNG is also supported by the National Department of Education through the Office of the Secretary.
It is noted that menstrual health and hygiene education and information is to be made available anytime whenever our students especially the girls need it and Oky is making this possible.
Sam Lora, the First Assistant Secretary further reiterated that puberty is a challenging time for adolescents, and not having the right information can significantly impact the wellbeing of young girls, which in turn might affect their educational outcomes.
“We hope that the information on Oky about puberty is utilized not just by girls but also by boys, teachers, and caregivers, so we can create a more supportive and girl-friendly social ecosystem.”
The Oky PNG initiative, backed by the Australian Government through its Indo-Pacific Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights COVID-19 Surge Response Program, aims to enhance digital health for girls in Papua New Guinea.
In an effort to reach the most girls, the app functions both online and offline, is designed to work on lower-end smartphones, is compatible with older software, and is entirely free, without advertisements.
UNICEF Country Representative, Angela Kearney emphasized the transformative Impact of the app, saying the app works offline, which is vital in a country where internet access is still expanding.
“By putting girls at the centre of their own health decisions, we are giving them the tools to navigate adolescence with confidence. We thank the Government of Australia and other partners.”