By Ankeli Emmanuel (Sokoto State)
UNICEF Communication Specialist, Mr Geoffrey Njoku, has urged media practitioners in Nigeria to help carry out advocacy to both federal and State governments on how to provide logistics support on the delivery of Covid 19 vaccines.
Njoku who said people should debunk the perceived fake theory that the Western world are trying to reduce Africa's population through Covid-19 vaccines, noted that there are numerous other ways of doing that other than using the vaccine, if the West had wanted.
Speaking at a two day media dialogue organized by The Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture in collaboration with UNICEF on "Demand Creation For Covid 19 Vaccines" held in Kano State, Geoffrey Njoku appealed to media practitioners to help generate demands for the vaccine intake and also allay fears about the likely conspiracy theories regarding the safety of the vaccines.
Earlier in his welcome address, UNICEF Chief of Field Office Kano, Mr Maulid Warfa, said the media has remained one of their greatest partner towards having a better society for all.
Warfa who was represented by Rafid Salih, WASH Manager, UNICEF Field Office, Kano, however added that people always believe the media for giving right and accurate information, stating also that the same media can help in misinforming people as well.
The Kano UNICEF Boss tasked the media practitioners to help communicate the reality about Covid 19 vaccine despite some erroneous views being canvassed that it is not 100 percent protective and safe for use.
"But it is important for us to inform people that their are people in and outside the country that are interested in peoples health"
Delivering a paper on "Debunking Rumours and Conspiracy Theories about Covid 19, the Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State, Prof Umaru Pate said almost every subject in Nigeria is religionist, politicized, regionalised and given ethnic coloration hence making Covid 19 vaccine acceptability may not be any different.
He also lamented that despite this development, the new media (ICT) makes information readily available to people within a very short period of time. He said it has equally help in creating doubts in the mind of information consumers by misinformation.
"Infact, in history, ICT has been the main stay of media sustainability. But they manifest in spreading of fake news, offensive speech and provocation of conflict and crisis.
"Societies are worried on the prevalence and consequences as well as misuse of the digital, online and social media to the extent that the conventional media and individuals are deeply involved".
According to Prof Pate, there is misinformation, disinformation and malinformation about Covid-19, especially now that it came in the era of internet, social media and digital communication.
He therefore urged media practitioners to have a high level of understanding to detect fake news because it is sometimes so beautifully written.
"The average age of Nigerians that listen to radio lately is sharply declining. Therefore, debunking the load of fake information about the vaccination should be multi-faceted. It should not be medicalised or highly politicised.
"Efforts should focus on active leadership involvement at all levels, community engagements, informed media engagement as well as intensive awareness campaigns to help in debunking rumours and negative theories". NNL.
