A first-of-its-kind innovative AI based WhatsApp bot- ‘Hygieia For Good Hygiene’, designed by Dettol Banega Swasth India, has made its international debut at the World Economic Forum 2025 in Davos. The chatbot is available in six Indian languages—English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Gujarati and Odia—ensuring inclusivity for diverse linguistic groups. And now, at Davos, Hygieia goes global with 3 international languages- Spanish, French and Mandarin.
‘Hygieia For Good Hygiene’ was launched in India on October 2nd last year, at the launch of the 11th season of NDTV Dettol Banega Swasth India – one of India’s longest running public health campaigns on television – that every year talks of how better hygiene and nutrition can improve India’s health.
Ravi Bhatnagar, Director – External Affairs and Partnerships, Reckitt, South Asia, said, “At Reckitt, we are driven by the purpose of creating a cleaner, healthier world, and the debut of Hygieia at the World Economic Forum 2025 in Davos reflects this commitment. Hygiene is a universal need that transcends borders, beliefs, and cultures and serves as the foundation of good health, preventing disease and promoting sustainability. ‘Hygieia For Good Hygiene’, our AI-powered WhatsApp chatbot, will provide accessible, science-based hygiene knowledge in 22 Indian and three international languages – French, Spanish, and Mandarin – empowering communities globally. This milestone aligns with India’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and reinforces our mission to build a healthier, more conscious, and sustainable world – where hygiene unites us all.”
Actor Bhumi Pednekar, who has long been associated with NDTV Dettol Banega Swasth India spoke to NDTV about the campaign.
Bhumi Pednekar, Actor, Environmentalist & Young Global Leader, World Economic Forum: “I am proud to have been part of Banega Swasth India since 2016. Keep creating the wonderful impact that you have been creating. I am very fortunate that I have been a part of this journey for so many years. Together Banega Swasth India!”
Adar Poonawalla, CEO, Serum Institute of India: “Half of the way in which bacteria and virus can infect you is if you’ve got poor hygiene and poor sanitation. So, whether it is having toilets, where the government has made a lot of headway, and now with new technology to dispose of waste, we need to focus, utilize & harness that so that we have both a swachh and swasth India.”
Hygieia’s mission is to provide accurate knowledge to children on the importance of handwashing. The focus is on science-based, fact-driven learning that resonates with today’s youth. The ‘Hygieia For Good Hygiene’ Chatbot is a WhatsApp-enabled platform using advanced AI technologies, providing easy access to critical hygiene knowledge and enhancing engagement with instant, accurate responses. Through the Bot, Dettol Banega Swasth India introduces children to the concept of germs, reinforcing critical hygiene education. Hygiea has been created to ensure that children are protected in an evolving world. The intention is to build a safe space for peer learning for children, that is also done by children. Users can select mascots with distinct personalities, creating an empathetic, personalized experience that makes the AI feel like a supportive virtual guide.
Sanjay Pugalia, Editor-in-Chief, NDTV Network said: “Congratulations to Reckitt and Dettol on the groundbreaking launch of the Hygieia chatbot. This innovative step reflects their ongoing commitment to advancing health and hygiene solutions through technology. The Hygieia chatbot will undoubtedly be an easy-to-use platform for much-needed information and support for children as they learn critical lessons about handwashing and hygiene. I look forward to further building this collaboration with Reckitt that is driving such important behaviour change & contributing to the collective endeavour for a healthier and more sustainable world.”
Banega Swasth India, a collaborative initiative by Dettol and NDTV, is a nationwide campaign dedicated to improving hygiene outcomes in every corner, and for every citizen of the country, as a starting point for good health. Aligned with the Swachh Bharat Mission and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, this initiative is committed to generating awareness and catalyzing actionable measures that leave no individual behind in the pursuit of these goals.
In the last 10 years, this multiple award-winning campaign, has reached more than 24 million children in India through a series of programmes, innovations, activities & tools – all aimed at making hygiene an inextricable part of our lives. In its mission of changing the landscape of hygiene behaviour in India, Banega Swasth India has attracted the most powerful & influential voices in support of the cause, from Vice-Presidents & Chief Ministers to Oscar winners, Magsaysay awardees & Nobel laureates.