For millions of Nigerians, healthcare doesn’t start in hospitals. It starts in living rooms, markets, pharmacies, and WhatsApp chats.
But while digital health tools have grown rapidly in Nigeria, most still assume one thing: that users can read, type, and navigate apps comfortably. For a country where literacy, data costs, smartphone storage, and digital fluency vary widely, that assumption quietly excludes millions.
AISHA is changing that.
This week, AISHA Technologies announced the launch of its voice-to-voice feature on AISHA Chat, making it the first health-focused AI assistant in Nigeria to offer spoken conversations in Nigerian local language (English, Pidgin, Yoruba, Hausa & Igbo) directly on WhatsApp, without requiring any app download.
In simple terms: you can now talk to AISHA the way you talk to a person, and AISHA talks back.
Healthcare that speaks like the people
Nigeria is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world. While English is official, Nigerian Pidgin is the everyday language of the streets, markets, campuses, and transport hubs. It cuts across education levels, income classes, and regions. Yet most digital health tools still speak “corporate English.” AISHA’s new voice feature flips that script.
Users can send a voice note describing symptoms in English, Pidgin, Yoruba, Hausa or Igbo and AISHA responds with a natural voice reply, guiding them on next steps- whether it’s symptom checking, safe medication use, first-aid advice, or when to seek professional care.
“Healthcare should feel human, not technical,” says Charity Orji, Team Lead at AISHA Technologies. “If people already trust WhatsApp to talk to family and friends, why shouldn’t they use it to talk about their health in the same language they speak every day.”
Dr. Paul Orhii, Board Member at AISHA Technologies, adds:
“What AISHA is doing with voice-enabled healthcare on WhatsApp is truly groundbreaking. This is the first time we’re seeing AI-driven health support delivered in Nigerian local language, on a platform millions already use daily. It removes friction, expands access, and sets a new standard for how health innovation should be designed for our context.”
This is more than a feature update. It’s a design choice rooted in how Nigerians actually communicate.
Why voice and WhatsApp matters
Most health-tech solutions push users to download apps, create accounts, and navigate complex interfaces. For many Nigerians, that friction is enough to stop them from ever trying.
AISHA chose a different path:
- No app downloads
- No new platforms to learn
- No heavy data requirements
If you can send a WhatsApp voice note, you can use AISHA Chat.
This matters because:
- Voice lowers the barrier for people with limited literacy.
- Voice is easier for older adults and people with visual challenges.
- Voice feels more natural for describing symptoms (“Jikina yana da zafi”, “my belle dey run”, “O rẹ̀ mi pupọ̀”, “Isi na-afụ m”).
- WhatsApp is already the most familiar digital interface in Nigeria.
By combining voice + WhatsApp + local language, AISHA meets users exactly where they are technologically and culturally.
What users can do with AISHA chat voice
With the new voice-to-voice feature, users can:
- Describe symptoms by speaking instead of typing
- Receive spoken health guidance
- Get basic first-aid information
- Learn about medications and possible side effects
- Understand when to escalate to a clinic or professional care
The bigger picture: Designing for real access
Nigeria’s healthcare system faces structural challenges: shortages of health workers, overcrowded facilities, and high out-of-pocket costs. In this context, digital health isn’t just about innovation – it’s about reach.
AISHA’s voice feature highlights a quiet but powerful insight: The future of health tech in Africa isn’t just smarter AI, it’s AI that speaks like the people.
By removing literacy barriers, app friction, and language gaps, AISHA is not just building a tool; it’s building a more inclusive entry point into healthcare.
How to use it
- Save AISHA Chat on WhatsApp: +1(781)2409690 or click on the link http://wa.me/17812409690
- Send “Hello, AISHA” to onboard
- Record a voice note describing your symptoms or health question
- Receive a spoken response from AISHA
No apps. No Forms. Just a conversation.
