The World Health Organization has partnered with WhatsApp, a popular social media platform owned by Facebook, to halt the spread of fake news on the coronavirus outbreak. The initiative called WhatsApp Coronavirus Information Hub is a response to the spread of misleading information on social media, most especially on WhatsApp, about the pandemic.
The hub will offer simple, actionable guidance, general tips, and resources for users around the world to be better informed about the disease and hence reduce the spread of rumours.
The messaging firm announced its partnership with WHO following issues with how its platform is used to spread false information. WhatsApp also donated $1 million to the Poynter Institute’s International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), a grant meant to help in fact-checking for the ‘CoronaVirusFact Alliance’ that spans more than 100 local organizations in at least 45 countries.
“We are also pleased to be able to partner with the Poynter Institute to help grow the amount of fact-checking organizations on WhatsApp and to support their life-saving work to debunk rumours,” said Will Cathcart, Head of WhatsApp, in a statement. “We will also continue to work directly with health ministries around the world for them to provide updates right within WhatsApp.”
Users of WhatsApp and other social media have been circulating news of fake cures to the coronavirus such as mixing garlic and honey, consuming cow urine and many more, says Zaharadden Ubale, a social media activist in Nigeria. “People said you can kill the coronavirus with chloroquine. In other places, they said coronavirus cannot withstand the temperature we have in our locality. That’s also fake news,” he added.
Rumours of chloroquine medication as a cure surfaced after United States President Donald Trump announced the approval of the drug as a treatment for the disease. After this, the Lagos State Ministry of Health reported chloroquine poisoning in the state as people rush for the malaria drug while many people have taken to the social medium (WhatsApp) to spread different information about the issue.
Nigeria’s minister of health, Osagie Ehanire has said Nigeria does not recommend the use of chloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19, adding that the country would not adhere to the recommendations of the U.S. president, but will rather follow WHO guidelines. “We no longer use chloroquine in Nigeria. Donald Trump made this announcement but we are not following that announcement,” the minister said.
For instance, a story about the Nigerian driver of a man diagnosed with coronavirus was posted on social media and shared by several WhatsApp users, which was reported as a rumour. According to the message, the taxi driver drove an Italian diagnosed with the virus to a location that was quarantined in Nigeria’s southwestern Ogun State. The government then told the driver to go to the hospital after which it was claimed the driver tested positive for the virus but escaped from the hospital and threatened to spread the disease unless he was paid N100 million ($274,00another 0). The state government dismissed the claims in a statement, saying no patient had escaped from the isolation centre.
Such cases in Nigeria prompted the messaging firm to introduce a hub providing the latest situation reports in real-time to help decision-makers in carrying out their roles. According to WHO, government leaders, health workers, family and friends through the messaging service will provide the latest news and information on the coronavirus including details on symptoms and how people can protect themselves and others.
The global spread of the virus has led to unprecedented measures around the world, but spreading misinformation could be Nigeria’s biggest battle with coronavirus. With this new initiative by WhatsApp, a platform widely used among Nigerians, the people can rely on a credible source to get facts and figures on the pandemic without any compromise.
By Ahmed Iyanda.
