Groundbreaking Alfac Duck arrives in NI supporting local children living with cancer
Time Magazine voted this one of the top 50 inventions of the year 👏
In a ground-breaking initiative for Northern Ireland, Aflac Northern Ireland is partnering with the Children’s Cancer Unit to provide its award-winning My Special Aflac Duck to every child across the region undergoing cancer treatment to help with their care.
Named by TIME magazine as one of the world’s best inventions of all time, with lifelike movement and emotions and an augmented-reality app, the My Special Aflac Duck uses medical play to help children better manage the stress involved with cancer.
Since 2018 and in partnership with more than 350 participating hospitals and cancer-related organisations, Aflac has distributed more than 12,000 robotic ducks to patients across the U.S. and Japan.
Designed and created by Sproutel, the robot uses naturalistic movement, quacks, nuzzling and calming play. The Bluetooth-enabled duck boasts a range of ground-breaking features, including feeling emoji cards, which can be pressed against its chest, generating a reaction that imitates how the child is feeling.
It has a corresponding app that further enables medical play to help children cope with often scary and uncomfortable cancer treatments. Its removable plush exterior is machine washable, enabling easy care for parents.
Aflac Northern Ireland Managing Director Keith Farley said:
"As a growing member of the Northern Ireland business ecosystem, we feel a strong need to engage with the community and demonstrate our commitment to the families where we live and work.
"By introducing My Special Aflac Duck and helping bring comfort to children and families facing childhood cancer in Northern Ireland through our collaboration with the Children’s Cancer Unit Charity, we are returning the warm welcome that we have received since opening our technology centre in Belfast. We’re confident that this partnership will make a real difference in the lives of local children who have been diagnosed with cancer.”
Community Play Specialist, Naomi Spence, at The Children's Cancer Unit Charity added:
"Without support, our charity wouldn’t exist to continue our vital work, and we deeply value the significant contribution and commitment being made by Aflac Northern Ireland at this time. We’re particularly excited for those children who will benefit from the joy and friendship My Special Aflac Duck will bring to their lives during their treatment and care.
"This is a pioneering partnership, which brings new innovation and practical help and support to our children, families, and staff, and I look forward to extending the rollout over the coming weeks, months and years ahead so that children with cancer in Northern Ireland can benefit and quickly enjoy the real advantages of this important partnership."
For more information about My Special Aflac Duck in Northern Ireland, visit aflacni.com
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