A NEW digital interface was launched on Saturday for the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s iMatter mobile application which provides the 914 hotline at one’s fingertips.
‘Help Bot,’ created by Maryam Bacchus, is a chatbot on WhatsApp that can be contacted via 654-5685.

Bacchus, who spoke at the ministry’s WE LIFT 3 expo on Saturday, said that she created Help Bot to fill some gaps of the iMatter app, such as not being accessible to persons who are blind or unable to hear and to those unable to read or write.

“Help Bot caters for those that can’t read or write, persons who cannot talk or see. There are buttons that you don’t even need to type,” she explained.

Bacchus added: “Help Bot is a revolutionary new tool that brings out the full potential of chatbot and WhatsApp. It is the first of its kind and it is fully accessible and addresses all the problems just listed.”

Help Bot can be accessed by texting the said number on WhatsApp, it then collects your phone number and in cases of emergencies, a person can send their live location as well.
Respondents on their end will see a map created showing where persons need help. They can also state whether an issue has been resolved or is pending.

Another additional benefit of Help Bot is the safety watchlist choice. According to Bacchus, if someone knows they are in danger, they can then sign up to be on the ministry’s watchlist.
“So, when you make a report, the number that the report was made on is connected to your information so that we can know exactly who made the report,” she explained.

This provides the respondent with access to not just the number and location of the person seeking help, but also their name, address and an emergency contact.

The iMatter app was made available on Google Play and Apple stores in March 2021 at the first WE LIFT event to allow abused people to easily access help and resources.
“The App is part of the continuing work we are doing to tackle domestic violence. I wanted to ensure that persons out there have multiple ways to reach our help, and putting the panic button in the App was something I insisted on.

“I encourage people to have every member of their family download the ‘iMatter App’. Let’s save lives and stop the violence!”, the Human Services Minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud had stated.
This technological development is a collaborative effort between the ministry and the Spotlight Initiative, a European Union-United Nations global partnership to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.

The app can be found by searching iMatter on Android or iMattergy on IOS. After downloading from your app store, simply select the region you live in to get started for educational information on gender-based violence, and to find support services for you or someone you know who is affected by violence.

The categories that can be selected include: Sexual violence and disability; sexual exploitation and abuse; trafficking in persons; domestic violence; child abuse; and elderly abuse. The application also contains useful resources and answers to frequently asked questions that would help users understand more about gender-based violence.

Dedicated gender-based violence case workers assigned to the gender-based violence technological platform will respond by reaching out to a gender-based violence survivor or individual at risk via the communication channel that the individual has expressed a preference for.