The alarming levels of misinformation and inaccurate information around the Covid-19 pandemic have necessitated MISA Malawi’s response by hosting Covid-19 press conferences between August and December 2021.
The conferences, nine in total, are aimed at providing the media and the general public with evidence-based information about the pandemic, more especially on preventive measures and vaccines.
First in this series is a virtual press conference scheduled for Wednesday, August 18, 2021.
The Wednesday press conference will focus on Covid-19 vaccine and some of the common myths and misinformation around the vaccine specifically and the pandemic more broadly.
Manager for Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in Malawi’s Ministry of Health Dr. Mike Chisema is expected to make a presentation on the importance of Covid-19 vaccine and bust the common myths and misinformation around the vaccine.
“During these press briefings, we will be inviting different health, advocacy and communication experts and other relevant personalities from both government and the private sector to provide evidence-based information around the pandemic. The media will have an opportunity to ask questions after the presentation,” the letter from MISA Malawi reads.
Since April 2020, when Malawi registered its first case of Covid-19, MISA Malawi has been implementing and participating in various activities aimed at encouraging the spreading of facts about the pandemic.
In partnership with DW Akademie, Germany’s leading organisation for media development, MISA Malawi has been implementing Only Spreading Facts campaign.
Misinformation has dominated the country’s Covid-19 narrative with the government of Malawi and other stakeholders still trying to convince the skeptic large part of the population to get vaccinated.
Cumulatively, Malawi had registered 58, 221 Covid-19 and 1, 983 deaths as of Monday, August 16, 2021.
