‘Misinformation undermines trust in health systems, endangers lives’

An International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) impact award recipient in partnership with Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), Mr Kelvin Odonkor, has identified health misinformation as one of the biggest health threats facing the country.

He noted that health misinformation had undermined trust in health systems and endangered many lives.

He said this at a training workshop in Accra to equip community health workers and health trainees with essential tools to combat false health narratives in their communities.

The workshop empowered health workers and young professionals with the awareness and tools needed to combat falsehoods in their communities.”

The event spearheaded by Mr Odonkor was in partnership with CHAG, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Public Health Nursing School, Korle Bu, FactCheck Ghana, DUBAWA and funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, with Meridian International Centre as the implementing partner.

The workshop was also aimed at enhancing participant’s ability to identify and verify misleading health information. Attendees included frontline community health workers, representatives from non-governmental organisation and health trainees.

Topics treated included understanding the distinction between misinformation (unintentional falsehoods) and disinformation (deliberate falsehoods), practical exercises in utilising fact-checking tools and techniques for verifying health-related information, and strategies for engaging with communities to correct misinformation and ensure accurate health communication.

According to Mr Odonkor, health misinformation poses a significant challenges particularly in underserved areas, leading to issues like vaccine hesitancy and the spread of harmful practices at home that could have otherwise been avoided with accurate information.

 He further mentioned that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghana experienced a surge in health-related misinformation, which contributed to widespread confusion about the virus and vaccines.

 At the end of the training works, participants were able to use fact-checking tools effectively to debunk health myths as well as formed a network of health misinformation fact-checkers and ambassadors committed to promoting accurate health information in Ghana.

Sharing their thoughts after the event, a public health nurse, Rabbi Braimah, said, “This workshop has enabled us to understand the difference between misinformation and disinformation. It has equipped me with the tools to ensure that the information I share or use is accurate.”

She also expressed her satisfaction for the programme, recommending that, “the training should nsot be limited to only the targeted audience but should be extended to religious groups and community leaders.

By Abigail Annoh