Fighting the misinformation outbreak during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic
Fighting the Misinformation Outbreak During the COVID-19 Pandemic
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that swept across the world, one thing that proved even more dangerous than the virus itself was misinformation. I once spoke with a friend in London who said she had deliberately stayed away from the news just to preserve her peace of mind. Another in Lagos confessed that she didn’t know which information to believe anymore. In a time of information overload, the spread of false or conflicting messages can cause panic, confusion, and mistrust all of which undermine public health efforts.
In Nigeria, misinformation and inadequate access to reliable information worsened the public response to the pandemic. Much of the government’s communication was channelled through online portals or social media, leaving out millions of citizens who lacked access to smartphones, internet connectivity, or even the funds to buy mobile data. This digital divide created a dangerous gap one where the most vulnerable and socially excluded communities were left in the dark about safety protocols, case updates, and where to seek help.
My earlier experience leading Digital Health Global, an organisation focused on improving healthcare access through digital innovation, gave me first-hand insight into how technology could be a bridge rather than a barrier. I had seen how digital tools could empower communities and bring health education to people who would otherwise be unreachable. When COVID-19 struck, I knew that digital inclusion would be just as critical as medical response in saving lives.
In this regard, I marshalled my team to develop innovative digital tools that provided accurate, accessible information both to those with internet access and those without. For the former group, we developed a Telegram chatbot, a one-stop hub for verified COVID-19 information in Nigeria. Users could access it freely via the Telegram app and receive real-time updates, safety tips, and myth-busting insights directly sourced from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). We realised that much of the fear and confusion was driven by fragmented or unreliable news sources so we designed the chatbot to centralise all essential COVID-19 information in one reliable space.
For individuals without smartphones or internet connectivity, we created a toll-free USSD short code, accessible on any mobile phone without the need for airtime or data. The menu offered continuously updated information, including:
- Real-time national and global COVID-19 statistics: Automatically updated from the NCDC’s data servers to help Nigerians understand the scale of the pandemic.
- Safety and prevention tips: Practical, actionable steps to help people protect themselves and their families.
- Emergency helplines: Users could instantly access verified contacts of regional health hotlines and receive them by free SMS at no cost.
Although Digital Health Global traditionally focused on building digital capacity for healthcare workers, we recognised that the pandemic demanded an all-hands-on-deck response. Ensuring that accurate information reached everyone regardless of their connectivity or income level became our most urgent mission.
Today, these tools have reached tens of thousands of Nigerians, from urban centres to remote communities. We are proud of how mobile technology, when thoughtfully designed and inclusively implemented, can play a decisive role in combating misinformation, empowering citizens, and strengthening public health resilience.
The COVID-19 pandemic reminded us that innovation is not just about creating technology it is about creating solutions that work for everyone, especially those at the margins of society
About the Author
Oluwafunke Kofoworade Founder Digital Health Global and Product Manager
Oluwafunke Kofoworade is a Product Manager and Digital Health Innovator. She was a 2023 Nigeria Technology Innovation Award finalist, recognised for her pioneering contributions to advancing digital inclusion and equitable access to healthcare through technology-driven solutions.
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