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Nigeria Health Watch Tackles Health Information Disorders

Health misinformation has emerged as a significant threat, undermining public health efforts and putting lives at risk. The proliferation of false or misleading information has led to poor health decisions, vaccine hesitancy, and a growing mistrust in healthcare systems and professionals. In response to this urgent challenge, Nigeria Health Watch, a prominent health advocacy and communication organization, launched a Fellowship program in 2023 to combat health misinformation and promote accurate, evidence-based health narratives across the nation.

Building on the program's success, Nigeria Health Watch has expanded its reach with the implementation of the second and third tracks of the Fellowship. In collaboration with key stakeholders, the initiative targets a diverse group, including social media influencers, creatives, bloggers, nurses, midwives, traditional birth attendants, community pharmacists, chemists, traditional medicine practitioners, and health educators. These stakeholders are empowered with the skills and tools to counter health misinformation, advance evidence-based health communication, and rebuild public trust in healthcare systems.

This multi-sectoral approach underscores the importance of collective action in addressing the growing threat of health misinformation while fostering an informed and healthier society.

The three interconnected tracks are the Health Misinformation Management Fellowship which equips influencers, bloggers, and creatives to produce accurate, compelling health content and combat false narratives online. The Health Workers Misinformation Fellowship is designed to enhance healthcare providers’ skills in identifying, addressing, and mitigating misinformation within their professional and community networks, while The Lagos State health educators Fellowship is a localised initiative targeting Health Promotion Officers (HPOs) in Lagos, emphasising community engagement and mobilization to combat misinformation at the grassroots.

Achievements of the fellowship program include:

Content Creation and Digital Engagement: Fellows produced over 168 pieces of health-focused content, garnering more than 56,000 views and nearly 63,000 interactions.

Community Outreach: Participants conducted grassroots educational campaigns, conducting advocacy visits to schools, communities, and healthcare facilities.

 Lagos Community Impact: Promotion Officers from three health districts engaged their communities effectively, creating district-specific action plans and leveraging local expertise for sustainable outcomes.

Behavioral and Knowledge Shifts: There was a 31% increase in audience understanding of misinformation across the programs.

The Managing Director of Nigeria Health Watch, Vivianne Ihekweazu, emphasised the collective responsibility to combat health misinformation and amplify credible information.

“This fellowship is not just a program; it is a movement. Today, we celebrate the graduation ceremony of all three tracks. These fellows are now equipped to play a vital role in addressing health misinformation and fostering trust, both online and within their communities”.

In her keynote address, Fatou Wurie emphasised the importance of building trust, noting that
“Trust, once it is built, is stronger than fear”.

The highpoint of the event was the launch of the Health Information Disorder Management Network by Dr. Kemisola Agbaoye, Director of Programmes at Nigeria Health Watch. This initiative aims to sustain the fight against health misinformation by fostering collaboration, innovation, and accurate health communication.