By Iyemah David
An abstract titled “Combating Infodemics: Evaluating the Role of Accurate Health Reporting During Lassa Fever Outbreaks in West Africa,” written by a Public Health reporter with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ms Racheal Abujah, has drawn international attention at the 2nd International Lassa Fever Conference in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The conference, convened by the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), brought together researchers, policymakers, and development partners under the theme “Beyond Borders: Strengthening Regional Cooperation to Combat Lassa Fever and Emerging Infectious Diseases.”
Abujah’s presentation highlighted the dangers of misinformation during outbreaks and the critical role of journalists in promoting vaccine confidence and building trust in health systems.
Her abstract received commendation from Dr Ifedayo Morayo Adetifa, Chief Transformation Officer/CEO of FIND and former Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Dr Adetifa praised NAN for consistently shaping accurate health reporting and urged that the Epidemiology, Infodemiology, and Social and Behaviour Change (SBC)/Risk Communication (EIS) Fellowship be cascaded to Sierra Leone and Liberia to strengthen journalists’ capacity in those countries.
“I remember you were part of the first cohort of journalists trained. I can see that the Fellowship has created a cadre of media experts who are not only playing a more qualitative role in outbreak coverage and reportage, but also ensuring accountability, transparency, and upholding best practices in finance, equity, and human rights during health emergencies.
“You have ensured that less privileged populations are not marginalised but receive the same attention as their more privileged counterparts across the entire spectrum of emergency preparedness and response,” he said.
He noted that the abstract presented highlighted a major gap in outbreak response across Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, namely the challenge of effective science communication.
According to him, this gap must be addressed if the public is to accept and adopt health advisories and build resilience against the harmful effects of infodemics.
“This gap is driven by a lack of understanding of the dynamic epidemiology of disease outbreaks among many media practitioners reporting on health.
“Consequently, this limits their ability to set the agenda and fully utilise their platforms to empower affected populations with the information they need to make informed decisions,” Dr Adetifa added.
Also reviewing the abstract, Dr Franck Berthe, Senior Agriculture Specialist, Western and Central Africa VPU World Bank, expressed enthusiasm for the work, noting that he was glad to see this critical dimension of outbreak response highlighted at such a high-level forum.
“It was great talking to you today and discussing this important issue of misinformation and infodemics; thanks a lot for reaching out.
“I am glad to continue the conversation and explore how we could involve our communications colleagues at the Bank,” Berthe said.
Similarly, Dr Katrin Ramsauer, who leads the Lassa Fever Disease Programme at CEPI, and Ms. Oyeronke Oyebanji, Head of Lassa Fever Engagement at CEPI, engaged Racheal in a detailed discussion.
They emphasised the importance of the abstract in countering vaccine misinformation as the Lassa fever vaccine progresses to Phase 3 clinical trials, while also stressing the need for stronger cross-border collaboration to prevent misinformation in future outbreaks.
Speaking on her motivation, Abujah said: “Infodemics are silent epidemics that undermine outbreak response.
“By empowering journalists with accurate information and regional collaboration, we can build public trust, counter misinformation, and save lives.”
The recognition of NAN’s abstract at the Abidjan conference underscores the growing acknowledgement of health journalism as a vital tool in epidemic preparedness and response across West Africa.
“The 2025 conference is a wake-up call for us to take bold and coordinated steps. We cannot continue to rely on donors while our people remain at risk of repeated outbreaks,” he said.
The four-day meeting, convened by the WAHO in collaboration with Nigeria’s Ministry of Health and Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Health, brings together scientists, policymakers, and development partners to review progress and chart the way forward in the fight against Lassa fever.
It seeks to reaffirm regional commitment, mobilise political will, and drive collective action against Lassa fever and other emerging infectious diseases.
