Kids receive special delivery of robotic Aflac
ducks and enjoy a day of fun festivities during National Childhood
Cancer and Sickle Cell Awareness Month
COLUMBUS, Ga., Sept. 25,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Aflac, the leading provider
of supplemental health insurance products in the
U.S.1 and proud supporter of families of children with
cancer and blood disorders like sickle cell disease (SCD), today
delivered its award-winning My Special Aflac Duck to
children at The University of New
Mexico Children's Hospital in Albuquerque. The duck delivery coincides with
National Childhood Cancer Awareness and Sickle Cell Awareness
Month, helping to bring attention to the challenges that children
and families face when confronted with pediatric cancer or sickle
cell disease.
The social robot uses medical play, lifelike movement and mimics
emotions to engage and help comfort kids during their cancer or
sickle cell disease journey. It was developed after more than 18
months of research with children, families and health care
providers to help children cope with their treatments, particularly
from an emotional perspective.
"My Special Aflac Duck has given comfort and joy to more
than 24,000 children across the United
States, Japan and
Northern Ireland during what are
often incredibly challenging circumstances," said Aflac U.S.
President Virgil Miller. "Our
$170 million commitment to children
and families facing pediatric cancer and blood disorders, spanning
more than 28 years, is best illustrated through this extraordinary
resource to help families when they need it most. It is an
incredibly rewarding program, and we are pleased to spread some joy
today with these children in New
Mexico."
"We are excited that Aflac has brought My Special Aflac
Ducks to Albuquerque for our
children. It is extremely important for kids facing cancer and
sickle cell disease to have the ability to express their feelings
and use medical play to better understand what is happening both in
the hospital and at home," said Dr. Shirley
Abraham, hematologist/oncologist at UNM Children's
Hospital.
Attendees at the Albuquerque
event participated in a My Special Aflac Duck demonstration
before beginning an exciting scavenger hunt, culminating in each
child meeting his or her very own robotic companion. Following the
hunt, patients and their families celebrated the new friendship
through various activities like creating a birth certificate and
beaded necklace for their duck, coloring and more.
Additional elements of My Special Aflac Duck include an
interactive mobile app that allows children to virtually bathe and
feed their duck, featuring customizable soundscapes that provide
soothing visuals and sounds, smart sensors that enable touch and
awareness of light and sounds, a calming heartbeat and breathing
vibrations. My Special Aflac Duck was named Best in Show at
CES in Las Vegas and was named to
Time Magazine's list of Best Inventions.
Health care providers, support organizations and families can
order My Special Aflac Duck for children three years or
older who have been diagnosed with cancer or sickle cell disease at
https://myduck.sproutel.com/family/request.
ABOUT AFLAC INCORPORATED
Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:
AFL), a Fortune 500 company, has helped provide financial
protection and peace of mind for more than 67 years to millions of
policyholders and customers through its subsidiaries in the U.S.
and Japan. In the U.S., Aflac is
the No. 1 provider of supplemental health insurance
products.1 In Japan,
Aflac Life Insurance Japan is the leading provider of cancer and
medical insurance policies in force. In 2021, the company became a
signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). In
2022, the company was included in the Dow Jones Sustainability
North America Index for the ninth year, the World's Most Ethical
Companies by Ethisphere for the 17th consecutive year, Fortune's
World's Most Admired Companies for the 22nd time and Bloomberg's
Gender-Equality Index for the fourth consecutive year. To find out
how to get help with expenses health insurance doesn't cover, get
to know us at aflac.com or aflac.com/espanol. Investors may
learn more about Aflac Incorporated and its commitment to corporate
social responsibility and sustainability at
investors.aflac.com under "Sustainability."
Aflac | Aflac New York | WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999.
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW
MEXICO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
The UNM Children's
Hospital in New Mexico's only
dedicated children's hospital. As part of the UNM Health
System, the only academic health center in the state, pediatric
patients receive the most advanced specialty and primary care in
the Southwest. UNM Hospital/UNM Children's Hospital is the
only Level-I trauma center in the state and serves all New Mexicans
regardless of ability to pay.
1 LIMRA 2021 US Supplemental Health Insurance Total
Market Report
Media contact for Aflac: Jon
Sullivan, 706-763-4813 or jsullivan@aflac.com
Media contact for The University of New
Mexico Children's Hospital: Chris Ramirez,
505-313-3429 or cramirez@salud.unm.edu
Analyst and investor contact: David A. Young, 706-596-3264, 800-235-2667
or dyoung@aflac.com
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SOURCE Aflac