About us

B-Wise Health:

Youth-Centered Digital Health Platform

B-Wise is a South African digital health platform developed by the National Department of Health (NDoH) to provide youth-friendly, non-judgmental and accessible health information and services to young people aged 10–24. Launched in 2015 as part of South Africa’s broader strategy to promote adolescent and youth health, B-Wise aims to empower young people to make informed choices about their health, well-being, and futures.

Purpose and Rationale

Young people in South Africa face numerous challenges related to sexual and reproductive health (SRH), HIV prevention, mental health, substance abuse, and access to health services. Despite the availability of services, stigma, fear, misinformation, and structural barriers often prevent youth from seeking care.
B-Wise was designed to bridge this gap by:

• Providing accurate, up-to-date health information
• Encouraging health-seeking behaviour
• Creating a judgement-free digital space for youth
• Linking users to services, including nearby clinics, helplines and digital tools

Core Features of B-Wise

• Health Information: Covers topics such as HIV, STIs, contraception, puberty, mental health, gender-based violence, and substance abuse
• Clinic Service Finder: Helps users find and rate youth-friendly clinics and services in their area
• Chatbot: Offers real-time support, referrals and reminders in a format familiar to young users.
• Peer-to-Peer Engagement: Uses relatable language and storytelling to foster trust and learning.
• Campaigns and Activations: Works with schools, NGOs and peer educators to promote the platform through activations, events, and community outreach.

Target Audience

Adolescents and young people aged 10 to 24, with tailored content for three sub-groups:

• 10–14 years (tweens)
• 15–19 years (teenagers)
• 20–24 years (young adults)

Impact and Reach
Since its inception, B-Wise has reached millions of young people across South Africa through its digital platform, school-based activations and community outreach. It contributes to national goals related to:

• HIV prevention and the 95-95-95 targets
• Reduction in teenage pregnancy
• Mental health awareness
• Digital health literacy