Experts seek AI, community engagement to tackle vaccine misinformation
Health experts in Nigeria are exploring the use of AI and community engagement to combat vaccine misinformation. The initiative focuses on local innovation and leveraging trusted community leaders to improve public health communication.
Why it matters
Effective health communication is critical for immunization success, and using AI to detect misinformation could serve as a model for other developing nations.
EXPERTS have sought Artificial Intelligence and community engagement to tackle vaccine misinformation
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the summit was convened by the Africa Hub for Innovation and Development (AHFID) under the theme, “Catalyzing Country AI-in-Health Frameworks for Transformative Healthcare Systems”.
The session examined why vaccine misinformation resonated with communities, how it spread, and how AI and community-led interventions could support accurate health communication.
Mr Kshitij Joshi, Chief of Social and Behavioural Change at UNICEF, highlighted the importance of local innovation and collaboration in developing AI solutions that addressed Nigeria’s health information challenges.
Joshi contributed to discussions around a proposed hackathon to encourage young Nigerian developers to develop applications and AI models that responded to local needs.
Dr Joseph Oteri, Senior Programme Officer for Measles and Rubella at the Gates Foundation, said addressing misinformation required acknowledging caregivers’ concerns and connecting them with trusted sources of information.
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