ASHENEWS reports that the Niger State government has lamented over the dual challenges of diseases and rapid spread of misinformation being faced by rural communities across the state.
The state government, in its bid to end this dual diseases has collaborated with the Nigeria Health Watch (NHW) to combat public health myths by launching the health misinformation management fellowship for health service providers.
Speaking at the inauguration of the cohort 1, track two of the Niger State Health Misinformation Management Fellowship program in Minna, the state Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, Dr Ahmed Ibrahim Dangana highlighted the critical impact of misinformation on public health.
He stated that a single erroneous piece of information can undermine decades of health progress.
The Commissioner who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Abdullahi Usman Imam said that the state was in urgent need for the fellowship. He said that the fellowship would help sensitize communities faced with the dual challenges from diseases and the rapid spread of misinformation.
Dangana explained that the fellowship aims to empower health professionals, including doctors, nurses, midwives, and traditional health practitioners with the skills to combat misinformation within their communities.
The Commissioner then encouraged the Fellows to collaborate and build a synchronized approach to foster trust in scientific health information. He appreciated Nigeria Health watch and its team for their support and commitment towards combating health misinformation in Niger state
The Director of Health Planning, Research, and Statistics, Dr Junaidu Inuwa noted that fake information poses significant hazards in public health efforts. He urged participants to actively engage with the training and apply their knowledge practically.
The Program Manager of Nigeria Health Watch, Mr Abara Erim reiterated the importance of accurate information in public health, detailing that the fellowship targets health service providers to enhance their capacity to combat misinformation effectively.
18 Fellows were selected for the two month gellowship. During this fellowship, the Fellows will work to reduce the prevalence of health misinformation and leverage community trust to spread accurate health information.
