English Scholars’ Association of Nigeria, 38th Annual Conference, September 2023 | Lasu, OJO, Lagos
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted global health and peace, affecting all aspects of society. Unfortunately, this crisis has worsened the issues of antibiotic resistance and the spread of false information in Northern Nigeria, creating conflicts. These problems have become more complicated due to the rise of new media and advancements in communication technologies. Medical interventions alone will not be sufficient to address these challenges. Social and behavioural change strategies must also be implemented. Communication experts and sociolinguists can distribute transdisciplinary research findings and use effective language and communication techniques to provide robust policy tools that complement system-level policies. Education, news literacy, and direct communication support programs are essential for combating misinformation and providing accurate information to the community. Overcoming confirmation bias and motivated reasoning in human psychology can be difficult, but disseminating truthful information on social media platforms can help establish trust and credibility. Our research aims to provide healthy communication to people in Northern Nigeria to combat harmful rumours and prevent potential dangers caused by the widespread belief in fake news, myths, and conspiracy theories often propagated through social media. To achieve this, we have developed a communication tool called COMIFAVIGILANCE, which promotes accurate information and encourages using scientific-based drugs and vaccinations instead of untested and potentially harmful medications. The main principle of COMIFAVIGILANCE is to prebunk and debunk misinformation, disinformation, and pseudoscience related to the pandemic and beyond.
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