Red Cross Society of Malawi has said media plays a critical role in fighting misinformation and disinformation about immunisation campaigns.
Malawi Red Cross Society director of programmes and development Leonard Maganga said this yesterday in Mponela, Dowa, during a media orientation with journalist from various media houses.
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He said: “As you are aware these days of social media, there is so much that goes around when a campaign like this one is launched.
“So, we would like the media and other institutions to share messages to prevent misinformation.”
Maganga observed that some of the challenges affecting the exercise were the failure to finish doses and boycott of the vaccines.
Ministry of Health and Sanitation deputy director for expanded programme on immunisation Jane Dzoole said the media engagement will help scale up vaccine uptake.
One of the participants, Dowa district information officer Silvester Kumwenda, described the training as timely and an eye-opener ahead of the campaign.
The ministry is expected to conduct immunisation campaign from September 21 to 25.
The measles- rubella vaccination campaign targets children aged between nine months to nine years and Red Cross will implement the campaign in seven of the country’s 28 districts namely, Blantyre, Lilongwe, Nsanje, Balaka, Dedza, Kasungu and Mzuzu.
The organisation is implementing the campaign with funding from the American Red Cross and International Federation.
