UNICEF and FactSpace West Africa trains journalists on the basics of identifying health misinformation and disinformation

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UNICEF in collaboration with FactSpace West Africa and the Ghana Health Service have trained journalists and people from selected organizations on the format for identifying the basics in tackling health misinformation and reporting health and security related issues using co-creation and infodemic management in their line of duty.

The one-day training took place on Wednesday, 2nd October, 2024 at the Nim Avenue Hotel in Tamale.

The session which brought together journalists and media managers from selected media houses, non-governmental organizations and other development-oriented organizations engaged in the agriculture and health sectors exposed the trainees to ways of managing health related misinformation and disinformation. It also delved into the ravages of the Sahel spillover and some of the social and behaviour change communication strategies to mitigate the effects of the ills of society especially in the current sophisticated social media landscape in the sub-region.

Participants were carefully drawn from the Northern, North East and Savannah Regions of the northern sector. The training was a follow-up to an earlier session that was held in February 2024.

Facilitators at the training took participants through a series of practical scenarios based on previous happenings in the areas of misinformation and disinformation in health reporting, conflict management and migration related issues that lead to stereotyping of people that can threaten the peace in the northern sector in particular and the country as a whole.

Speaking on the sidelines of the training, the executive director of FactSpace West Africa, Mr. Rabiu Alhassan expressed satisfaction at the insightful nature of the presentations and the fact that the various facilitators employed a practical bottom-up approach that enabled participants to contribute meaningfully to the discussion. He also expressed his optimism that, journalists and other development related participants will implement the take-aways from the session in their various fields of endeavour to effect the needed change in society.

“I think it has been a very interesting program because it has not been so much of a lecture but an opportunity to co-create knowledge. So, beyond just introducing the journalists to the basics and the skill sets to use in tackling health misinformation, we have as well in groups tried to come up with local understanding of some of these emerging issues and as well understand some of the trends and narratives that are dominating in our local communities relating to health misinformation and then try and counter it from a point of knowledge. Where, with our understanding of the nuances on the ground, we are able to devise strategies that will be more effective in dealing with some of these emerging trends.” He noted.

For her part, the T4D officer, social: behaviour change at UNICEF, Madam Siobhan Burnette expressed satisfaction at the enthusiasm displayed by all the participants describing the session as very informative and encouraged the journalists to put everything learned in the session to practice in their respective fields involving people of all segments of society in its benefit.

“So, today’s session was very informative, I think learning more about what is happening on the ground on drought in this specific region is something that we can take back and inform our colleagues of what is happening on the ground so that they know and inform the decisions better. So, I think in all it is not just a learning experience for the journalists but also for myself to take back to my team and discuss with them how we can best move forward and solve survival issues. So, I want them to take the concepts that they have learned and to apply it into the work that they do especially when it comes to the human centered design and putting people at the center of trying to come up with your solutions, trying to craft the messages and making sure that the people are involved.” She said at the end of the training.

Another facilitator at the training, Dr. Eliasu Mumuni who is Vice Dean at the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies of the University for Development Studies in an interactive session on the current state of the Sahel spillover said it was important for journalists and other development workers to be abreast with the issues emanating from the Sahel region and tailor their reports to ensure peaceful co-existence between Ghanaians and the migrants. Dr. Eliasu Mumuni called on editors to perform their gatekeeping roles effectively on misinformation and disinformation especially as we are in an election year.

“What I think we should be pushing for are the things in terms of behaviour change, advocacy on what should be done and rightly. Trying to counter misinformation and disinformation, making sure we get the right facts and trying so much to improve on our editorial policy and guidelines. And then just to tighten up our gatekeeping. When we do this, I strongly believe that we should be implementing most of these things that we have all discussed with you as participants. So, so far, so good, we hope that most of you will not renege in pushing through especially as we get closer to elections. Issues of security and fairness remains key especially for us here in the north where it has been very difficult getting the required understanding as a people when it comes to the two major political parties, it is something we have to push harder.” Dr. Eliasu stated.

A senior officer at the health promotion division of the Ghana Health Service, Mr. Joel Abekuliya who joined the session virtually, delivered a presentation on the current health and climate change misinformation and disinformation issues that poses a risk of diseases to the Ghanaian populace. He said the prolonged dry spell that happened in northern Ghana and the Sahel spillover had both contributed to putting pressure on our health infrastructure and journalists must tailor their reportage in such areas of sensitization to ensure peaceful co-existence in order to lessen the burden of insecurity going forward.

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